Local donor backs Portsmouth High CTE program; district highlights expansion of career pathways

Portsmouth School Committee members on Oct. 14 recognized a donation intended to support Portsmouth High School's career and technical education (CTE) business pathway and heard a presentation on growth and next steps for the district's CTE programs.

The committee voted unanimously to accept a donor contribution as presented during the meeting. Doctor Heath and other administrators introduced Gary Vito of Aquinnick Pools and Spas, who told the committee he and his late wife Paula founded their business with a $6,000 personal investment decades ago and established scholarships in her memory. Doctor Heath said the donor subsequently increased his commitment and described the gift as seed capital to help the high school open a student-run school store.

Committee members said the donation and other community partnerships will help expand hands-on learning opportunities for students. Paige Corwin Claire, the district's director of college and career readiness, gave a 20-minute overview of the district's CTE programs, enrollment and implementation plans.

"The goal for these programs is to provide engaging learning experiences for students, preparing them for both college and careers by teaching real world academic and technical skills," Corwin Claire said.

Corwin Claire told the committee Portsmouth currently offers seven state-approved CTE programs and one locally approved pathway and noted growth in out-of-district enrollment: 78 students from outside Portsmouth this year, up from 65 last year and far higher than 26 in 2020-21. She also provided participation metrics: 759 students are enrolled districtwide in CTE courses and 306 of those students are enrolled in a state-approved program or local pathway; 704 students are CTE participants (at least one course) and the district reported 79 program completers last year (students who finished the full sequence and work-based learning requirements).

Administrators described several program highlights: engineering students building trebuchets and beanbag launchers; a growing bioscience program with planned field trips to URI and Roger Williams Marine Biology Lab; an award-winning digital media production program developing a promotional film; music production students building original tracks; a newly adopted business leadership management pathway and steps to offer dual enrollment with Roger Williams University; and a criminal justice local pathway working with the Portsmouth Police Department and outside law-enforcement speakers.

Corwin Claire outlined a five-year, DoDEA-supported grant that moves the district from planning into implementation, funds professional learning and supports alignment between middle- and high-school curriculum. She described a new vision committee to improve vertical articulation with middle-school unified arts and a planned CTE fair for eighth graders on Dec. 8, followed by a field trip to the high school to tour CTE spaces.

Gary Vito, who was recognized during the meeting, said the donation and previously established scholarships are a way to "give back" to the community in memory of his wife and that he wants to help students learn entrepreneurship and practical business skills.

Committee members and administrators praised recent improvements to CTE facilities and said they plan to showcase the new spaces online and at student-centered open-house events.