A manager at Weyerhaeuser's Cottage Grove mill says his company's commitment to school change is "aggressive."

Now the company is telling them it wants employees with technical, communication and teamwork skills.

Such skills are needed because the Cottage Grove site now ranks among the elite lumber mills in the world in its use of high-technology, says Brad Anderson, the site's financial manager. The mill manufactures lumber for retail markets.

Weyerhaeuser works closely with the school-to-work team from the South Lane School District to coordinate efforts to reach students. Including:

• Class presentations
• In-plant job shadows
• Work-study projects in the field
• Plant tours

Students are thus able to complete CIM and CAM requirements at Weyerhaeuser. These requirements often call for group presentations on the part of students, which Anderson notes is relevant to the needs of his company.

For example, the company's 45-day new-employee training program demands that each employee research a project and make an oral presentation to other employees and management.

"People who've never done this are scared to death," Anderson says.

Anderson does not have exact numbers for the time and money his site spends on K-12 transformation, but he characterizes Weyerhaeuser's support as "aggressive."

And, he sees it increasing.

"We want all our employees to encourage their kids to stay in the community and have a career here," Anderson says. "When we get to where we've accomplished that, we will have accomplished what we set out to do."