A new partnership between the Bernardston Highway Department and Greenfield High School hopes to pique students’ interests in a potential career in public works.

“We — other DPWs in the area — are all having trouble filling our positions and keeping rosters (employees),” said Bernardston Highway Superintendent Brian Miner. “This is what I perceive as a great program to get kids interested in working for the DPW.”

The paid internship program, which is funded by a Massachusetts Department of Transportation grant administered by the University of Massachusetts Amherst Transit Center, offers high school seniors the opportunity to work with local public works departments. The students work 160 hours with the option to renew for another 160.

“At the completion of their 160 hours, as long as everything went well, MassDOT is working with a truck-driving school to get these kids — once they turn 18 — they get them a [commercial driver’s license]. That’s one of the big pushes,” Miner explained. “The CDL is worth more than what they’re making working for us.”

This fall, Miner had two students working for him, both of whom he expects will return in the spring. Interns are involved in landscaping work, culvert replacements, pouring concrete and various maintenance tasks. The next round of the internship program will begin next fall.

“Just about anything our DPW did, they were doing it,” he said, with the exception of operating equipment and driving CDL trucks. “It’s definitely a learning experience for them, as well as me, in terms of doing this program for the first time.”

Miner said he hopes to expand the program to include Franklin County Technical School.

“I think everything went well this first time. I’d be more than happy to continue it in the future with whoever is willing. I think it’s a great thing for any DPW to get the kids interested in our line of work early, and hopefully keep them.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.