TauntonHigh School  -  Marketing Education

“Where hard work prevails and can earn scholarships and trips to national DECA conferences.”

 

SCHOOL BASED ENTERPRISES Course

 

 

School Based Enterprises (SBE) have been used to describe traditional School Store operations usually affiliated with Marketing Education Programs.  Since 1990 at TauntonHigh School we have taken and innovative approach to our “shop” component, taking SBE’s one step further to include a wide range of student planned business activities.

 

We have a School Store that provides the foundation of hands on training for our Marketing students.  They experience the basics of operations, customer service, buying, pricing, marketing, financial decisions, and numerous other competencies as required by our Massachusetts Department of Education.

 

Career and Technical Education leaders have strongly suggested that programs also provide opportunities for students to research, and whenever possible to experience a real world situation that can succeed or fail.

 

Textbook simulations provide opportunities for students to practice their textbook theory, but as schools and colleges with “Coop” and “Internship” programs will attest, nothing compares to a real experience.  SBE’s go further in that students actually make the decisions with guidance from the instructor.

 

Moving to block scheduling has given us more time with students, which allows students to plan, design, conduct and evaluate business projects that range from selling Halloween candy treats to students and staff, to major Sports and Entertainment Marketing Events such as a city-wide Middle School Talent Competition.

 

Students who participate in management and leadership positions in these SBE activities can then prepare a Technical Report of the activity following national guidelines by DECA, an Association of Marketing Students.  DECA operates in all fifty States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, and South Korea, as well as several US Territories such as Puerto Rico, and Guam.

 

A great number of our students have competed at the District, State, and International level of DECA Competition.  DECA student reports are judged at all levels by business professionals who volunteer their time.  These professionals often comment about how pleased they are when they see the aptitude of these students who will one day move into the free enterprise system.

 

Many of these professionals also serve on our Program Advisory Committee meeting regularly to review the course content, program design, and the level of support from the District.  They make key recommendations to the school administration to help fulfill the training needs of the local private sector.

 

Students have prepared technical reports, often working after school, weekends, and during vacation periods to compete in DECA competition.  Competition is a critical element of the PRIVATE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM in America.

 

Graduates have often returned to say how that “project” helped shape their career decisions.  Carlos, who chaired the Patriots Basketball event, went on to Johnson & WalesUniversity majoring in Sports Facility Management.  He now runs a facility in Rhode Island.

 

Danny told us that the business skills he learned while preparing his Entrepreneurship Report helped him create a T-Shirt Design business in New York City that paid his way through college.

 

Ana, was a model in our fashion shows, and was “discovered” by a Boston modeling agency.  She then earned $150 per hour modeling in top metro area malls.  She earned a DECA scholarship to Johnson & WalesUniversity, studied two years in Europe and now works for the FBI.  Her family was “economically disadvantaged” while she was in the Marketing Program.

 

In the Marketing Program, students are taught the basic principles of the Free Enterprise System: Freedom of Ownership, Competition, Risk, and Profit, and the role of Government in encouraging the growth of private enterprise.

 

Students begin with the premise that it takes the same kinds of Factors of Production; Land, Labor, and Capital, to design and run a class car wash as it does to run General Motors.

 

The course uses a variety of planning activities to help students brainstorm ideas for the various SBE’s. They interact to discuss critical decisions, on operations, financial projections, manpower needs, and management levels.  They also develop a marketing plan for the SBE.  After the event, they evaluate the activity and make recommendations to either run the SBE again or drop it.  See the attached sample Project Design Worksheet in the included in the enclosed documentation.  Also included is the Projects section of the Massachusetts Vocational Technical Education Frameworks.

 

Students maintain an SBE Portfolio with all the handouts, brainstorming notes, drafts of SBE plans, and other materials.  They are tested and graded on the depth of the content.

 

The Marketing Education Program and DECA:

Students have an opportunity to take part in the various DECA activities which are a part of the Marketing Program.  Students form a classroom “Action Team” of leaders, who meet with peers from the other Marketing classes and make decisions about the DECA Planned Year of Activity.

 

Students have received State and National Leadership training at conferences throughout the U.S.  Our

local Initiation and Installation Ceremony has been recognized by National DECA in a national publication.  The article includes tips for teachers on how to run this dynamic activity that recognizes these students for taking a step in preparing for a career in the Private Enterprise System.  Distinguished keynote speakers have included U.S. Ambassador Ray Flynn, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, and several State Senators, Representatives, and Mayors.  

 

 LIST OF SELECTED SCHOOL BASED ENTERPRISE PROJECTS CONDUCTED SINCE 1990

 

 

Students have been able to prepare technical reports about these businesses and enter them in DECA competition at the District level, State level (SL) , and International level. (IL)

 

A list of just a few of the SBE Events conducted by our students

*  New England Patriots Charity Basketball Games (two)

*  Fashion Shows (seven)        

*  Middle School Talent Competition (six) IL

*  Tiger Fest – Talent ShowIL

*  DecemberFest – Combination Sports Card Show, Flea Market, and Crafts Fair SL

*  Car Show – Classic Cars and new models (twice)

*  National Circus events – Hosted two such touring circus presentations

*  Rudolph’s Secret Workshop – Fund raising event with elementary school PTOIL

*  Halloween Candy Sales SL

*  SpecialSchool Dances

 

 

SBE activities go beyond traditional projects that generate income.  Our students have conducted Market Research for local organizations, used public relations skills to promote:

*  Free Enterprise Project – worked with local Scout Troop. IL

*  Promotion of the Greater Taunton Memorial Day Parade to over 6,000 school children

*  Christmas Parade Floats with Public Relations Campaigns such as “Support the Troops.”

*  Public relations campaign promoting the local hospital school health clinic. IL

*  Promoted REGIONAL JOB FAIRS to high school students, & gave workshops on Job Applications.

*  The new St. Vincent DePaul Store, SL

*  FIRE Safety lectures to middle school students with materials and a web site SL

*  Marketed a Cape Verdean Cultural event. SL