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Eastern CTE joint committee accepts $450,000 grant to launch building-trades program
Summary
At the May meeting of the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology joint operating committee, board representatives accepted a $450,000 PA Smart grant to develop a building trades program slated to begin in 2027; Cheltenham speakers noted the program will expand CTE access for students.
The Eastern Center for Arts and Technology's joint operating committee accepted a $450,000 Pennsylvania Smart grant at its May meeting to develop a building-trades program expected to launch in 2027, a Cheltenham School District board member reported to the district board on June 10.
The grant "will be used to support the development and implementation of a building trades program set to launch in 2027," said Burdell Williams, who presented the Eastern Center report to the Cheltenham board. Committee members said the program is intended to expand offerings at Eastern and reduce long waiting lists for popular CTE programs.
Why it matters: Cheltenham officials highlighted Eastern's role in giving students career-focused experience and certifications and noted that the new program would create capacity in a field with local employment opportunities.
The Eastern committee also recognized Cheltenham graduate Nia Bonaparte as student of the month and noted summer internship placements for Cheltenham students, including Leila Johnson in robotics and automated technology and Ethan Rumson in networking and cybersecurity. Committee members emphasized that Eastern provides certifications and hands-on experience that can clarify students' postsecondary plans.
Burdell Williams said the joint operating committee also approved other summer work and intern placements and cited the acceptance of multiple state grants as among the year's achievements. "Eastern has constantly experienced a wait list for a number of programs," Williams said. "This innovation grant will be used for a building trades program that did not exist before today." The joint operating committee meets again June 18.
No vote by the Cheltenham board was required on the grant acceptance; the report was informational. Board members said they were proud of Cheltenham students' participation in Eastern programs and interns accepted for summer placements.
