Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel said having more students participating in internships will give more students valuable training while alleviating overcrowding. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Unit 5 Superintendent Mark Daniel has an idea that he says will give students hands-on job training and alleviate overcrowding – get them out of the classroom.

Daniel told WJBC's Red Pitcher an internship program that he saw work well when he was a superintendent in Fort Wayne, Ind. could be started here in as little as two years. He said students should be on the path toward finding a potential career as early as the sixth grade.

"We are looking at moving our students out in the community, especially their junior and senior year (of high school)," Daniel said.

Daniel said juniors and seniors could complete coursework at a job site, which he said will help with the district's overcrowding – particularly at Normal Community where the student population has swollen to 2,000.

"As we are creating goals for our students as early as sixth grade, in regards to what are your interests and what are your aptitudes and how does that affect your career choices as you register for classes?," Daniel asked.

Daniel said a pilot program could start as early as next year. He says an alternative would likely be portable classrooms – because they are running out of space at Normal Community and Normal West high schools.

PODCAST: Listen to Red's interview with Daniel on WJBC.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].