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Board approves funds for new CTE instructional trainers and online modules for manufacturing, electrical and transportation pathways
Summary
Trustees approved purchases of industry‑aligned curriculum/trainer modules for manufacturing (Amatrol Ignite), electrical systems (Amatrol Ignite) and transportation/diesel (LJ Creates). Staff said the investment will exceed the district's yearly curriculum budget and will be covered from fund balance this year.
The Estacada School District board approved instructional materials and trainers intended to expand career and technical education (CTE) offerings at the high school.
District staff recommended and the board adopted Amatrol Ignite modules for manufacturing and electrical systems and LJ Creates modules and trainers for transportation and diesel technology. Presenters said the products combine online instructional modules, simulations and hands‑on trainers that allow students to practice disassembly and reassembly in a durable, training‑center environment.
Erin Gardenhire, who presented the recommendation, said the chosen trainers are purpose‑built for repeated instruction and assessment: "Everything is included...it’s a trainer...they’re built to be taken apart and put back together so we can actually go through multiple years on one trainer," she said.
Financial context: presenters told trustees the purchases will exceed the district’s standard annual curriculum budget (staff said the district budgets roughly $300,000 per year for curriculum). Staff said the district will use available fund balance to cover the one‑time cost and that combining the CTE purchase with other planned curriculum buys will require using reserve funds this year.
Why it matters: district and community speakers emphasized the purchases will provide students with practice on equipment designed to teach industry‑standard measurements and processes and to support pathways that can connect to postsecondary apprenticeship or community‑college coursework.
The board approved the motion by voice vote; the chair announced the motion carried. Staff said some grant and Measure 98 funds cover other CTE costs but that these trainer purchases are district capital/instructional purchases recorded in the curriculum budget.
Ending: Staff will schedule implementation planning with instructors and community partners and will return to the board with updates on certifications and pathway enrollment.
