Molding today's high school students into tomorrow's telecommunications technicians is the goal of a partnership among Bell Atlantic Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's Department of Education and two vocational education centers.
As part of the deal, Bell Atlantic will provide a $300,000 economic development grant to fund two labs that will provide students with the necessary skills to work in entry-level telecommunications jobs.
The Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center in New Stanton and the Middle Bucks Institute of Technology in Jamison have begun recruiting students.
Bell Atlantic employees will work with the schools to build and equip the labs with fiber optic and copper cable and other supplies.