Lexington-Richland School District Five holds “First Jobs Signing Day” for students

CHAPIN, SC —

Seventeen students in Lexington-Richland School District Five are starting their first jobs — and today they made it official at the 2nd Annual “First Jobs Signing Day.” Representing multiple high schools, the juniors and seniors will be working for the district in clerical, custodial, and nutrition department positions. And district officials say it’s a great way to give students those work-based learning experiences and ready them for future careers.

Dr. Charity Simmons, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, believes it’s a win-win — improving school operations by helping the district with labor shortages, while paying the students for their work. “One of the things this gives the students is empowerment. Knowing that their school district is invested in them, and that their school district is making an opportunity for them to actually be fully employed. That is an important thing, you don’t see this happening in other places. But one of the things about Lexington School District Five is we invest in our students, and we grow our own,” says Simmons.

Student Perspectives

Camillia Ryans and Cyniah Currence are seniors at Dutch Fork High School. “Some people might not like school, and having a job at school could also have them a way to want to go to school, if they know that money is involved,” says Ryans. “It is important because it shows a good work ethic, and you know you can put it on your resume so that’ll be better for you in the future,” says Currence.

Joseph Whiteside, a junior at Dutch Fork, plans on going to medical school one day. He says this job helps him acknowledge the work that other people at the school take on. “Before I became a custodian at Dutch Fork, I didn’t realize how taxing it is to go and clean the windows every day with all the kids putting their fingerprints on them all the time — it’s annoying,” Whiteside says.

Kayla Anderson and Aniyla Bardo, seniors at Chapin High, express their thoughts on the initiative. “You’re not only helping the admin and staff, you’re helping the kids. And your peers, and it’s just so nice to know that you’re making a difference. Even if it’s subtle, it does really help them out and it relieves stress off of them, and it just feels good,” says Anderson. “It’s a good opportunity to be able to reach out to different resources and also to be able to network,” says Bardo.

Initiative Growth

The initiative grew from only seven students in 2023, to 17 students this year.