Juniors Brian Smedley, Aniket Patel and Quentin Cooper, from left, discuss rocket designs at a MESA class. Sahuarita High students participate in a program geared to boost science, math and engineering.

Dean Knuth / Arizona Daily Star

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A year-old math and science program at Sahuarita High School is preparing students for highly skilled jobs and may help the town attract future employers.

The students of fourth-year math teacher Caroline Torres participate in a program called MESA, or Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement.

The college preparatory program is aimed at increasing the number of students from low-income families — or whose parents didn't attend college — who enter careers in math, science and engineering.

MESA students participate in more hands-on projects than they would in regular science and math classes at school.

But MESA is also intended to produce more professionals in those areas.

Using MESA as a potential base model, the Sahuarita Unified School District is looking to promote more rigorous, relevant and structured courses, said Assistant Superintendent Manuel O. Valenzuela.

The district intends to provide a stronger education for college-bound students and students entering a work force that is demanding highly skilled workers.

The benefits are widespread, said Kathy Ward, Sahuarita's economic-development manager.

With more students trained in technology, science and math, the town can attract a greater variety of employers, which would also provide residents job opportunities closer to home, Ward said.

Sahuarita has to diversify its economic base because it cannot rely on sales tax to pay for growing municipal services, she added. The demand and cost of public services is outstripping tax revenue.

To expand its economic base, the town, the school district and other entities have begun to create a mutually beneficial relationship, Valenzuela and Ward said.

Education is one of the most important components when industries look to relocate, Ward said.

The district is evaluating what facilities will be needed, what curriculum changes will be made and what intragovernment agreements might be needed.

"As we grow we can create what we want and need," Valenzuela said.

Already the district is collaborating with the town's Economic Development Commission, Pima Community College and local employers, Valenzuela said.

For example, the district views the growth of medical-care facilities in the area as places where students can work as interns or find jobs.

Carondelet Health Network has opened a family-practice clinic and plans to open a 68-bed hospital in Sahuarita in 2012.

The result will be a demand for highly skilled health employees and workers for other related jobs, Ward said.

The school district also is looking at partnerships with Pima Community College regarding help in construction costs for one of two planned new high schools.

In return the college can offer classes at the new school focusing on technology and medical-related fields, Valenzuela said.

The town's economic-development plan starts in the classroom, Torres said.

MESA students are taught not only classroom skills but workplace skills. They are taught to communicate and collaborate, she said.

She added, "It works."