Building Trades Program

On June 7, 2006, the Philadelphia School District announced a historical partnership with the Philadelphia Building Trades, which was designed to create 250-425 apprenticeships in the skilled trade unions for graduates of the city’s public schools.  The program is designed to facilitate an increase in the number of younger members of the trades who reside in Philadelphia and to expand job creation opportunities for the city’s residents. 

About Us: School Reform Commission Chairman James E. Nevels believes that the School District of Philadelphia not only must prepare students for college, but for good careers that don’t require a four-year degree.

Nevels negotiated a historic Partnership Agreement with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Philadelphia that was signed on June 7, 2006 by Nevels and Pat Gillespie, Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO.

The four-year pact provides a minimum of 250 new apprenticeship opportunities to School District graduates over the life of the agreement.  The actual commitment on a union-by-union basis could actually result in as many as 425 new apprenticeships for graduates who meet minimum academic requirements for apprenticeship programs.  The apprenticeships are part of a broad agreement with Philadelphia labor unions that will guide much-needed construction and maintenance of School District facilities, at a cost of $1.7 billion.

The agreement calls for the Building Trades to work closely with the School District to create a curriculum that will prepare public school students for apprenticeships with the electricians, carpenters, plumbers and other skilled trade unions.

On Wednesday, August 23, 2006 the first of several Career Fair and Orientation events with the Philadelphia Building Trades Council was held at the School District of Philadelphia Education Center.  Over 2,000 intake applications were issued to possible candidates.  The completed intake applications will be forwarded to the building trades unions, which will contact all interested candidates.  The Philadelphia School District will be checking in with both applicants and unions on a regular basis to ensure that all candidates are given a fair opportunity to enter into an apprenticeship program.