Betty Suggs, work-based learning system coordinator, gave details on Sumter County School’s work-based learning program. “Work-based learning is where the students . . . find their job, or either we place them in a job, and they get to leave school early and go to work to make money and to earn class credit.”

Suggs has been with the school four years. She told how when she came, coming out of COVID, there were only 20 kids. Last year, there were 64. She told how there were around 50 partners in the community that provide work opportunities for students.

Suggs totaled the student’s accomplishments during the past year. “They worked 28,201 hours, bringing in $287,124.89.”

Suggs gave the number of students in work-based learning for the current year. “We have 58 students in work-based learning, and as of October 31, they worked 7,282 hours and [brought] in $72,033.24.”