The next time you see a city employee who looks young enough to be in high school, there's a chance they still are.

The city of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, and AFSCME Local 7 announced Tuesday they have teamed up to start a co-op for high school juniors and seniors in the district. The program will give training to selected students and place them into internships and full-time job opportunities with the city.

Jobs in public services and public utilities are part of the program, including utility worker, clerical specialist, and watermain and service repair worker, among others.

"It is so crucial for us to be able to offer alternatives to our young people," Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson said. "Since I became mayor, we always talked about ways we could become a pipeline for young people to be able to work for the city and get the training they need. I think what we're announcing today is a game-changer, yet it's so simple to do."

The co-op will start with 18 students selected by TPS teachers. Those chosen will have strong grade point averages, good attendance, experience with citizen engagement, and must provide a letter of recommendation.

TPS Superintendent Romules Durant said teens will begin exploring potential careers next month before starting training in January.

"One of the core commitments in the district is to build strong relationships with our community and our partners," Mr. Durant said. "Who better to build the strongest relationship with than the city of Toledo? We're developing an alignment between our career tech programs within TPS to opportunities existing in the city to let our students know there's employment right in their own backyard."

TPS will provide funding for liability coverage, transportation, and work-related clothing and supplies. Local 7 will provide opportunities for long-term employment after participants complete the six-week program.

Training will include resume writing, interview skills, and other skills geared toward a given job. The co-op is essentially a paid internship. City officials haven't finalized wages, but students will make at least minimum wage. The general fund for seasonal employment will pay for the program, which is not a new cost to the city.

"We're so easily accused of being a city that lets our young people leave," Local 7 president Don Czerniak said. "Now these kids will go through this training and have a chance to stay in Toledo, be employed by the city, and possibly help their own family members out. All the divisions are more than excited about bringing them in."

The first wave of trainees will begin their co-ops in June next year.

Contact Jay Skebba at jskebba@theblade.com, 419-376-9414, or on Twitter @JaySkebbaBlade.

First Published October 24, 2017, 6:44 p.m.