Two area school districts are exploring a new program that would bring students inside of businesses for a first-hand look into entrepreneurship.
It's called the Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program. And Pequot Lakes and Brainerd school district leaders are trying to find out if there's enough support in the community for it to be successful.
Pequot Lakes Superintendent Chris Lindholm sparked the conversation about CEO in part because of a strategic push to get more community partnerships in the school district.
More important, though, is giving students a taste of the real world, he said.
"We haven't taught kids the real world of going out and figuring it out yourself," he said, noting that education up until lately has been very classroom setting-based.
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The CEO program is the opposite.
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"We haven't taught kids the real world of going out and figuring it out yourself," Pequot Lakes Superintendent Chris Lindholm said.
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It's different than "old fashioned" internships, in-class units and the locally popular Bridges Program, Lindholm said.
This group doesn't meet in a classroom. Instead, they tour area businesses, listen to speakers and get some time to ask business leaders questions. Each student will get their own business mentor.
Throughout the year-long class, they'll write business plans and launch a business of their own.
"That's what I'm excited about," Lindholm said.
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Juniors and seniors can apply for the program. Traditionally, it runs the first hour and-a-half of each school day.
Students are required to dress business casual and jeans are not allowed. It's crafted for the highly motivated teenager, supporters say.
The CEO program launched first locally in September 2014 in a partnership between Wadena, Staples-Motley and Pillager schools.
To date, the eight students in the program have visited 56 businesses and had 12 guest speakers.
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"Most kids have no idea what's going on in the community. (The program) opens their eyes to what's here," said Bob Jackson of Stern Rubber Company.
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"Most kids have no idea what's going on in the community. (The program) opens their eyes to what's here," said Bob Jackson of Stern Rubber Company and who serves on the advisory board for the program.
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Jackson added it could keep students in the area long term instead of moving away for work.
Jerel Nelson, who also serves on the Wadena, Staples-Motley and Pillager advisory board, said the more businesses get involved, the more likely the program is able to be sustained.
The program is intended to be spearheaded by community business leaders, not the schools.
About $50,000 is needed to fund it, which for the most part goes to paying for a part-time teacher.
Area businesses that want to get involved commit to $1,000 for three years.
During a meeting between business and school leaders Thursday, Jessica Gangl of Junior Achievement said while she liked the idea of students touring businesses, she had to "get a little competitive."
"We offer a similar program," she said. That program allows students to open a business and get investors. It's more curriculum-based than the CEO program, she said.
Dave Hietala, who works in Central Lakes College's Admissions Department, said the college is interested in moving forward with the CEO program.
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"It's harder to work the college piece into the Junior Achievement curriculum," he said.
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"What a great experience to have them fail when they're 17 years old instead of 27 and with a mortgage," Jerel Nelson, who also serves on the Wadena, Staples-Motley and Pillager advisory board said. "There's nothing wrong with failing. You learn from that."
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Karlo Goerges of Pequot Tool said the CEO program would be a good way for small business owners to share their story of how they started.
"Everyone's got a great story," he said. "It's a matter of the dream you're building for these kids."
Nelson agreed, adding that it give students hands-on experience now in trying to start up a business.
"What a great experience to have them fail when they're 17 years old instead of 27 and with a mortgage," he said. "There's nothing wrong with failing. You learn from that."
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At the earliest, Lindholm said the CEO program could be implemented for the 2016-17 school year.
Before moving forward, he said, the one thing that needed to be answered was whether the business community was interested in pushing forward with the CEO program.
