Woodland Hills Teams up with
LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES TO CREATE JOB
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
BY WOODLAND HILLS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL TRANSITION DEPARTMENT
T
he Woodland Hills School District, in conjunction with the
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), has partnered with
local municipalities to provide work opportunities for students
through the MY Work Initiative. The MY Work Initiative is a summer
employment program developed by OVR which aims to connect
high school students with temporary jobs available in their local
municipalities. Most jobs take place within Public Works, which
includes landscaping, mowing, trash clean-up and painting. There
are also positions such as office assistant, indoor maintenance and
childcare assistant. Students are paid $10.20 an hour and can work up
to 37.5 hours per week throughout the 9 week program.
The hiring of students is continuing after the summer program
ends. Braddock and Swissvale are the leading municipalities in
providing work opportunities. The OVR representative John Ulozas
communicates with the leaders of the municipalities and then asks
the Transition Coordinator for Woodland Hills, Bob Ralston, to find a
worker to fill the position. Ralston stated, “Once John brings us a new
opportunity, it’s filled within minutes. This program works so well with
Woodland Hills because the majority of students at the high school
want a job and want to contribute to their community. I have students
visit me daily asking if another spot has opened up yet. Last year we
had a goal of getting 100% of senior students that qualified for OVR
services some work