PITTSFIELD — Officials at Maine Central Institute are working on the final details of an $8,000 grant received as part of the School-to-Work program associated with the Maine Youth Apprenticeship Program.

MCI Headmaster Doug Cummings announced the grant award at the SAD 53 board of directors meeting earlier this month. He said half the funds will be used to pay a coordinator to assist MCI students involved with the statewide program. The balance will be divided equally to develop curriculum and provide staff training to meet the needs of the apprentices who only spend half their school day in the classroom.

The Pittsfield secondary school is in its second year of participation in the high school-based apprenticeship program. Although five applicants initially indicated interest last year, none stayed with the program.

“It’s a good program, but it’s a tough commitment for the kids,” Cummings said. “It takes someone focused on a specific career with an eye on growing with the business to be more than laborer.”

The MYAP, sponsored by the Department of Educational and Cultural Services and the Maine Technical College System, is based on programs that have been successful in Europe, primarily in Germany and Denmark. The program was designed to help Maine students be better prepared for post-secondary technical education.

Students who successfully complete the first two years of the program are guaranteed entry into a Maine technical college. During those two years, the students spend half their time at school and half at work. During the summer months, students continue their employment. In the third year, students again spend time at a worksite, but also go to a nearby technical college.

MCI has one applicant for the program this year who has plans to work with Central Maine Power.