Laura Glesby Photo
Dev chief Piscitelli (right) with developer Winstanley: NHPS part of "ecosystem of growth."
City/NHPS Presentation
Laboratory and classroom space in 101 College designed for NHPS students.
Fifteen high school juniors from Hillhouse, Wilbur Cross, and Career have been selected to join cancer researchers and vaccine developers this fall in bringing to life a long-awaited College Street biotech hub.
The students will pilot a new biotech career training program in New Haven Public Schools (NHPS), entailing college-level science courses taught in a professional laboratory setting at the new 101 College St. bioscience tower.
The Board of Alders is now reviewing a handful of funding and licensing authorizations to enable the new program, called “BioCity,” to start this fall (after a preparatory “boot camp” for the participating high schoolers this summer).
On Wednesday evening, the Board of Alders Community Development Committee voted unanimously to recommend that their colleagues approve a licensing agreement with BioLabs, which operates a co-working biotech laboratory on the second floor of 101 College.
The agreement sets aside classroom, lab space, and equipment for the NHPS program. It is a ten-year contract, though NHPS will have the option to end the collaboration after year three of the program.
“You’re seeing how science is discovered and created” using “cutting-edge technology,” said Keisha Redd-Hannans, NHPS’s assistant superintendent of curriculum. “This is going to open up doors that our students did not have access to before.”
Keisha Redd-Hannans and Carter Winstanley.
The committee also unanimously voted to advance the following funding sources for the program:
• A $1.5 million earmark for the program through the U.S. Department of Education, for which the city needs alder approval in order to accept.
• An additional $1.5 million allocation of American Rescue Plan Act pandemic relief aid, which the city has already set aside for “career pathways.”
According to NHPS officials who presented to alders on Wednesday night, high schoolers enrolled in the program will spend the first half of their weekdays at their respective schools before convening at BioLabs in the afternoons — a half-day structure similar to NHPS’ partnership with Educational Center for the Arts (ECA).
Students are slated to earn 12 college credits in the coming academic year from Southern Connecticut State University, learning from a curriculum involving math, science, and English-Language Arts skills.
Science Department Supervisor Bob McCain noted that students will also be developing “soft skills” like work ethic, collaboration, and professionalism.
Students will receive tutoring, mentorship, and college application support, according to the presenters. NHPS leaders envision inviting guest speakers from some of the companies operating out of 101 College as well.
The administrators said they hope to add a new cohort each year and potentially grow the program to entail up to 40 dual-enrollment college credits with Southern and Gateway Community College.
City/NHPS Presentation
Communal professional spaces in 101 College, such as the cafeteria pictured at the left, will also be available to students.
City Economic Development Administrator Mike Piscitelli framed the program as an effort to create avenues for local students to become part of an industry growing rapidly in New Haven.
Noting the groundswell of biotech jobs that have come to New Haven in recent years, Piscitelli said, “New Haven Public Schools will be part of this ecosystem of growth.”
The presenters touted the opportunity for students to develop confidence in a professional lab setting and potentially build relationships that could lead to internship and job opportunities.
Carter Winstanley, the developer of 101 College, stressed the importance not only of acclimating students to a professional bioscience environment, but of having “industries accustomed to our students” — exposing companies looking to recruit new employees to the talents of students from New Haven.
Fifteen high school juniors, along with a waitlist of about ten students, were selected for this first year.
The committee alders unanimously advanced the funding and licensing agreement.
Fair Haven Alder Frank Redente asked how the students were selected, to which administrators responded that students had submitted written applications after a series of information sessions and outreach efforts.
“We did not want a minimum G.P.A.,” said Redd-Hannans. “We can’t close doors to kids who are 14, 15, 16 years old.”
“Judging from their essays, it’s going to be amazing,” said McCain.
The alders praised the project before voting to advance the related funding and contractual items before them.
“This is going to transform our students,” said committee chair and Hill Alder Carmen Rodriguez.
Eleanor Polak photo
101 College, on the rise.