LIVERPOOL -- Pencil and paper in hand, it's back to the blackboard, and in this case, back to the drawing board for many Central New Yorkers. They're displaced factory workers, formerly employed by Syracuse China, Carrier and New Process Gear.
Now, they're to pave a new future for themselves. "At first, I was like in denial. It was like, oh my God, I don't know anything else. What am I going to do?" said Kathleen Maser said. Maser worked at Syracuse China for 21 years. She lost her job when the plant closed back in April, shipping its operations overseas. She didn't graduate from high school and was at a 5th grade level, so she turned to an adult literacy class at OCM BOCES in Liverpool. "When I went to go look for a job, there was nothing out there," Maser said. "I need help, education. I've gotta bring my reading up, my math up, gotta find something to do."
And she's not alone. OCM BOCES says they've seen a spike in the number of students seeking help in light of the ailing economy. Classes are packed with people looking to be retrained. "They've worked for 30-40 years, and all of a sudden, they're without a job, but also they don't have a high school diploma or their math and reading skills are really poor," said Nancy Jastemski, an adult literacy instructor with OCM BOCES.
Tony Cerro worked as a machine operator at New Process Gear for 30 years. He was forced to retire last year, but without a high school degree, finding a new job isn't easy. Now, four months into the literacy class, Cerro already feels like he's well on his way to meeting his goal. "At the beginning of the course, I was at like a 6th grade level," Cerro said. "Now I'm up to an 8th grade level. I know I'm improving."
For now, they're taking it one day at a time, realizing it'll take hard work, time and patience to find a new future for themselves and their families. "Just trying to figure out what I'm going to do, what I'm going to be when I grow up," Maser said. Some of the students will go on to other training programs or even college and eventually land jobs as nurses, pharmacy technicians, welders and dental assistants.
