Mid-Del Public Schools board members heard a detailed update on the MidDel Technology Center on a board agenda item led by Miss Foster, MidDel Tech Center presenter.

The presentation summarized enrollment, program performance and near-term facilities work. Foster said the center had 455 students as of Oct. 1 — about 368 high school students and 86 adult students — and that roughly 81% of enrollment is high-school students and 19% adults. Foster told the board the center is operating at about 101% capacity in morning sessions and 79% in afternoon sessions, with a districtwide capacity figure cited at about 89.7%.

Foster highlighted recent program outcomes: a 92% NCLEX pass rate for the practical nursing cohort (with one student yet to test), strong masonry and SkillsUSA results, and an agreement that allowed cybersecurity students to earn college credit (she reported 23 students earned 183 college credits through articulation with Rose State). She also said more than 600 applications were received for recent cycles and that more than 200 prospective students remain on waiting lists for some programs.

Why it matters: The center’s capacity limits and waiting lists affect district course access, graduation pathways and workforce pipelines. Foster described steps the center is pursuing to serve more students: adding multiple start dates during the year, mixing first- and second-year cohorts to increase throughput, expanding articulation agreements with Rose State College, and pursuing apprenticeship pathways in collaboration with Meridian Technology Center and local industry partners.

Foster outlined funding and operations: state, local and federal funds support the center, including legislated CareerTech appropriations, local mill levies (she described receiving a share of Rose State’s Avaloram dollars and cited local millage figures), and federal grants such as Carl Perkins and TANF. She noted tuition for adult learners is roughly $3 per credit hour and identified other aid programs used by students (Oklahoma Promise, GI Bill and other financial aid).

On facilities, Foster showed proposed remodels for nursing and health-care instruction space (simulation labs, patient-room mockups and student study spaces) and said practical nursing and health careers areas are targeted for renovation to increase capacity. She also described the Launch Room pilot that brings ninth-graders to the center for exploratory STEM exposure for an hour and 15 minutes a day.

Board reaction and next steps: Board members praised the center’s growth and asked questions about outcomes, class size and the benefits of students taking math and science at the Tech Center. Foster and other presenters said curriculum and standards for math and science classes at the Tech Center are aligned with the district high-school courses and that smaller pullout classes can offer more individualized instruction. The board later approved the center’s marketing plan and an updated MidDel Technology Center portion of the district organizational chart in separate agenda votes (see “Votes at a glance”).

Foster said the center will continue working on: more enrollment start dates; apprenticeship partnerships; space planning to address waiting lists; and continued articulation with Rose State to allow students to earn college credit.

Ending: Board materials and the presentation slides were provided to trustees at the meeting; administrators said they will return with updates as programs and the planned remodels proceed.