CRANBERRY TWP — Students need some kind of post high school training or education to be successful in the work force today.

That is what a group of educators discussed Friday in considering how prepared students are for work and life after high school.

HH Education Events hosted the forum for educational officials from seven counties. The forum was held at the Cranberry Township Municipal Center.

The panel included Bob Kwiat, an elementary principal in the Wilmington School District; Regina Hiler, principal and assistant director at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School; Michelle Miller, Wilmington superintendent; Justin Aglio, director of innovation in the Montour School District; Scott Seltzer, assistant superintendent for school leadership in the Chartiers Valley School District and Jeff Finch, assistant superintendent in the Hampton Township School District.

Panel members discussed whether every high school graduate needs post secondary education or training

Kwiat said in most cases the answer is yes.

“My belief is for a student to get into the work force after high school in something that is sustainable they would have to have training to get a position that would compensate them (sufficiently) to be able to support themselves and a family,” Kwiat said.

Hiler said nearly all students at the Butler County Vo-Tech earn some type of certification. Last year out of the school’s 900 students, 890 did so.

She said, “I do agree going on to school or receiving training is excellent. Sometimes if they go right into the work force their employer pays for that education. I think continuing to grow and learn is very important.”

But she noted, “There are those students who fall into an informal apprentice-like situation in their work that makes for a meaningful career path, and we can’t discount that.”

Miller said the problem she sees for students who don’t receive additional training or education is it can be difficult to find apprentice-like training.

Finch said it is important to instill in students a belief in the value of continuous learning.

“I don’t think anyone should come out of high school at age 18 and feel like they have a terminal degree,” Finch said.

“The value we have to try to impose upon them is believe in continuous growth and learning.”

The panel also discussed whether schools are just set up to send students to college.

Herbert Hunt, founder of HH Education Events, said 33 percent of adults have a bachelor’s degree and 68 percent of students will enroll in higher education. The question, then, is what are schools doing for the other 30 percent?

Miller said schools are putting the students in remedial classes because they have to pass state Keystone tests. These students could be taking vocational classes or classes that develop their creativity and interests.

“Because of the testing movement right now, generally that 30 percent are not your high flyers and typically are not successful in a traditional classroom,” Miller said. “We are finding we need to remediate. We are putting them into classes where this is what you have to take ... It is taking them out of opportunities to grow and develop.”

Miller said there are districts that try to support these students by adding technology opportunities, FAB Labs and hands-on classes.

“There are some great opportunities there, but the more we have this whole testing and assessment movement and the more we have restrictions on us that is the group that suffers,” Miller said.

“I think all of us are trying to figure out how we inspire this group of students to find their calling, find their passion in a time when there is high-stakes testing and a lot of things coming down on school systems.”

Miller said, “It is extremely frustrating because that is not why we got into education — not so a kid could pass a test, but so that they can be creative and navigate that path is right for them,” she said.