By AMANDA DUMOND
Fosters Daily Democrat Staff Writeer
adumond@fosters.com
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061120/NEWS10/111200100

Kim Bruce, Amelia Arel and Haydee Capellan watch Ben Roberts as the Spaulding High School students brush up on how to deposit money into accounts at the new Holy Rosary Credit Union at the school.
(Aaron Rohde/Staff photographer)

* Order a print of this photo

ROCHESTER — Haydee Capellan was nervous when she first started working for the Holy Rosary Credit Union as an entry level employee this fall.

"It's a lot easier than I thought," the Spaulding High School senior said. "There is a lot done on the computer."

Many of her high school classmates stop by for the ATM or to make a deposit, which has also helped to calm her nerves.

Those students don't have far to walk anymore to get cash for lunch money as an HRCU branch recently opened in the high school's Richard W. Creteau Technology Center. Teachers and residents also have found the new location beneficial, school and credit union officials said.

The school, credit union and Chamber of Commerce celebrated the school and business partnership Oct. 31 with a ribbon cutting and grand opening. The arrangement is considered the first of its kind in the state — programs at Nashua and Alvirne high schools are similar but do not have an actual bank branch at their facilities.

The credit union approached the school more than a year ago about the project because they wanted to do community outreach at the high school level, having already implemented programs at the elementary and middle school levels, said Jane Gettens, senior vice president of operations.

The technology center provided the space and the credit union the equipment and an employee to teach the students about banking.

The community effort didn't stop there. Rainer Schwake of Artstream designed the credit union branch — the former engine repair room now sports bold orange and yellowish-green walls and the credit union's logo. Mike Witcher of Witcher Builders also helped renovate the space.

"This is impressive," Assistant Superintendent Kent Hemingway said as he walked around the branch. "This is what career and technical education is supposed to be."

It's good timing for the technology center because the state now requires technical schools to focus on career and technology education rather than vocational education, Technology Center Director Richard Towne said. The intent is to get students on a path to a career rather than just locating entry-level jobs.

Peter Hildreth, state banking commissioner, who read a commendation letter from Gov. John Lynch at the grand opening, said it's crucial that tomorrow's work force gain the skills needed to run their personal finances and keep the banking industry strong.

"It's important to find capable employees," he added. "We need not only entry level workers but also leadership for the banks."

The bank branch is primarily a classroom, with a computer work station that is on wheels. Instructor Leah Esslinger, a 1996 Spaulding graduate who just moved back to the area, has an office nearby so she can supervise students when they complete a transaction for a customer.

Because the students are still new at the banking business, Esslinger handles all cash transactions. The students also do not have access to people's account information when they do computer transactions at the teller's area. That measure ensures security for both the school and credit union.

Students go through a lengthy application process to participate, which includes taking prerequisite courses and having a teacher's letter of recommendation.

Classes with the banking program are no bigger than four students each, so everyone gets a lot of individual attention, Esslinger said. This semester there are seven students, with next semester at nearly 16 students, the maximum for the capstone course.

Towne said the technology center is close to receiving approval for an Academy of Finance, which includes the banking course as well as accounting and business management courses. That means students will be able to receive college credit for the work they complete with the program.

Besides basic teller duties, students also learn about credit union history and its structure and are working on a membership drive to encourage classmates to open accounts with the financial institution. They'll also spend a few days at the actual credit union.

Senior Ben Roberts said he has an interest in business and decided the banking course was a good way to give him a better understanding of the financial world as well as help him develop a good plan for his personal finances.

"It's a good way for me to figure out (what I want to do) before I go to college," he said.

Esslinger said the students have picked up on basic banking skills quickly, and fellow students and their teachers are excited to see familiar faces at the branch.

"I think everyone likes having them work here, including the community members because they know the students are here because they want to work," she added.

The branch is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The branch is best accessed from the Chestnut Hill Road entrance of the technology center.

Students or parents with questions can contact the technology center at 332-0757. Customers with questions on the branch's offerings can call 332-6840.