El Paso County Department of Public Works holds Career Day in partnership with District 49

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Department of Public Works (DPW) hosted a Career Day with School District 49 to allow students to gain hands-on experience.

During Friday's career day, a group of ten high school seniors visited four different stations around DPW.

Those stations included:

• Operating a backhoe
• Working with surveying equipment
• Building street signs with the students' names on them
• Welding and receiving a steel cutout of their choosing from the plasma table in the shop

The three-hour event was for the benefit of students who have expressed interest in a public works career, and aren't planning to attend college or join the military.

One of those students is Asa Zbozian.

"We want to help the county," he said. "Why not do something that gives us security, a good place to work? A family, basically. I was just exploding with joy. It's amazing what they're doing here. It's very unique, you know? It's a family. I saw everyone and how they treated each other, and I wanted it."

Students ended Friday's event by learning how to write cover letters and resumes, and gaining interviewing skills.

DPW has made courting such students a priority, as it has faced challenges in hiring and retaining workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This was a great day," said DPW training manager Scott Hall. "Some of the students planned to actually start applying today, and I think we'll end up hiring at least some of them. We need them. I'm hoping they'll take my job, eventually. The most common question was, is there room for advancement here, and there definitely is."

Around 40% of D-49's graduating seniors have no plans or ideas about how they'll earn a living," said Kelsey Grimaldo, who heads the district's Choice & Success Program.

“These students tell us they're interested in this pathway," she explained. "We find them resources. So, all of the students here have mentioned that they want some type of career in this pathway."

Previously, DPW tried to attract new employees by dropping the requirements of a high school diploma and a commercial driver's license (CDL); the department now helps new hirees get their diplomas later, and does in-house training for CDLs so that candidates don't have to spend hundreds of dollars to attend training schools.

Recently, the department also received support from county commissioners to offer a more competitive salary and benefits package.

The effort to recruit high school graduates started last summer when a group of 55 D-49 students, reflecting a range of grades and interests, toured the DPW facility near the intersection of Marksheffel Road and North Carefree Circle.

DPW is working exclusively with D-49 at present but eventually intends to include other area school districts in the effort.

The number of job openings at DPW has declined from nearly 40 at the beginning of the year to 25 currently, said executive director Kevin Mastin.

"We're getting better at finding workers and retaining them," Hall added.

Officials also hope this effort will inspire the younger generation to also consider a career in public works.