By Mike DeNardo

— The influential leader of IBEW Local 98 says he wants to develop a trade school with the Philadelphia School District.

John Dougherty, business manager of Local 98, says he’s been talking with Mayor-elect Kenney and Governor Wolf about moving beyond the union’s apprenticeship programs. Dougherty wants to create a way for his union to help teach electrical, engineering and architectural trades to public school students.

“We’re already in the education business. We just want partners in the city and the public school system in which we can again, entertain opportunities to educate kids more with real-life work opportunities.”

School Reform Commission chair Marjorie Neff believes some sort of partnership is doable.

“I don’t know if I want to see one school, but rather figuring out ways to look at neighborhoods and look with our partners and say, what kind of program could we have in this neighborhood?”

Neff says career and technical education is essential, because not all students go to college.

Source – http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/12/13/union-wants-to-help-teach-trades-to-philadelphia-students/