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District seeks approval for nearly $1.1 million in welding equipment with Mitchell Community College partnership
Summary
Iredell-Statesville CTE staff asked the board to permit purchases for a new welding lab at CATS/Katz, describing a partnership with Mitchell Community College that includes Mitchell funding and planned dual-enrollment credit; purchases and construction approvals will be considered at the next meeting.
CTE leaders described a multi-part purchase and partnership to build a new welding lab at CATS/Katz during the April 7 Committee of the Whole.
Tim Woody presented proposals and said Mitchell Community College will contribute about $750,000 toward equipment; the district’s immediate request asks CTE permission to spend $164,277 for equipment paid from CTE funds, and facilities would fund $221,413 for components of a welding-fume extraction system. Woody said the three portions were presented separately so each partner would have a clearly defined investment.
Woody and Mark (facility representative) said the total equipment cost for the fume-extraction system approaches half a million dollars, while the entire equipment package across partners would be slightly more than $1.1 million. Woody added that after DPI approval is received for the purchases, staff will collect construction bids for the permanent installation and that construction costs will come later for board approval.
The presenters said the plan will create 30 welding bays and provide for a partnership that supports concurrent-credit (CCP/dual-enrollment) opportunities through Mitchell. Woody said schedule design would allow up to about 90 students per semester (morning, afternoon and evening sessions), and that Mitchell will also fund an additional welding instructor for the program. He said the program has generated AWS (American Welding Society) credentialing success and noted that the district and Mitchell aim to give students exposure to multiple welding machines, CNC equipment and other industry-standard tools.
Board members asked about bids and installation costs; Woody said staff collected three equipment bids and were presenting the lowest bidder for the equipment portion. He also confirmed the district is already upgrading some existing high‑school welding labs and has renovated other shops in recent years. Woody said construction is expected to take about three months after bidding and approvals and the target opening is September.
Woody asked for board approval of the requested purchases at the next meeting so equipment can arrive in time for construction. No vote was taken April 7; the item will return as a voting item.
