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School committee approves two DESE innovation pathway grants totaling $50,000 for high school career pathways
Summary
Members unanimously approved a $15,000 DESE grant to fund application-writing and a $35,000 DESE grant to purchase equipment as part of new career pathway applications in business/finance and life/environmental sciences.
Wilmington School Committee members voted unanimously March 12 to accept two grants from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) tied to career-pathway applications at Wilmington High School.
The committee approved DESE grant FC0436 in the amount of $15,000 to help fund the writing of two separate innovation career-pathway applications. The motion to approve FC0436 was moved by Mr. Turner and seconded by Mr. Samaha; the vote was recorded as unanimous.
The committee also accepted DESE grant FC422A in the amount of $35,000, money the district said arrived via direct notice from a DESE contact and is intended to purchase equipment to help launch the pathways. The motion to approve FC422A was moved by Mr. Ragsdale and seconded by Mr. Golden; the vote was unanimous.
Wilmington High School staff described two proposed pathways: a business and finance pathway and a combined life-science/environmental pathway. Presenters said students in each pathway would be required by DESE to complete technical courses (four semester-length options), two advanced courses (AP or equivalent), and a 100-hour senior internship capstone. Staff said some required advanced coursework can include AP classes already offered in the district and that DESE allows alternatives to AP, such as district-developed advanced technical courses.
Presenters said the $15,000 grant funded the application-writing effort (district staff reported spending more than 150 hours each preparing separate applications). The $35,000 grant is intended to buy items such as laser printers for marketing classes, graphing calculators for economics courses, and environmental sensors for the life/environmental pathway.
Administrators said the district has been invited to formal interview for the program and that, if accepted, additional funding would follow: an award of approximately $75,000 in the first year for approved districts and smaller continuing awards (district staff referenced examples of $50,000 in subsequent years). The district said it plans to roll out the business and finance pathway to incoming freshmen beginning in the 2026-27 school year, with some science pathways potentially starting earlier if ready.
No committee member opposed either grant. Committee members praised staff and volunteers who prepared the applications.
