D60 outlines two-year plan to update career and technical education programs

District 60 Superintendent Dr. Kimsey and the district’s secondary and CTE leadership presented a two-year plan on April 8 to review and, if approved, implement updates to career and technical education (CTE) programs across the district’s high schools.

The presentation said Phase 1 (August–January) will focus on a six-month needs assessment and stakeholder engagement to review program data, enrollment, completion and postsecondary outcomes, then develop program options. Phase 2 (spring 2026) would finalize curriculum documents, resource needs and counselor advising. Phase 3 (March–April 2027) would concentrate on student transition planning and individualized plans for students affected by program changes.

The plan calls for surveying teachers, current CTE students, parents and recent CTE graduates and holding meetings with CTE teachers, core teachers, counselors, administrators, community members and business leaders. Presented program options could include adding new programs, modifying existing ones, phasing out programs or creating new pathways. The timeline indicates any approved updates would be implemented in the 2026–27 school year.

"Our goal is to ensure that we are offering high quality programming that is aligned with the evolving needs of industry while preparing our students for careers of tomorrow," said Ms. Zimes, the district’s executive director of secondary education and career and technical education, according to the meeting transcript. She said the district’s approach aims to equip students with in‑demand skills and industry-recognized credentials and to strengthen partnerships with local businesses.

High school principals described specific components of the three phases. Mrs. Destin Mejes, principal at Central High School, outlined the Phase 1 data review and curriculum alignment steps; Mr. Andy Clemente, principal at East High School, discussed finalizing curriculum and resource allocation in Phase 2; and Mr. Trujillo (identified in the meeting as the lead on transition planning) described Phase 3’s individualized student transition plans, which would consider program progress, career goals and transportation needs.

Board members pressed for clarity about earlier materials posted online that some teachers and community members read as settled decisions. Director De Niro said teachers called with concerns about programs being moved between schools and how that would affect faculty and students; Dr. Kimsey responded that principals had been “in conversation” about possibilities in the fall but "nothing has been finalized," and she acknowledged communication lapses that led to confusion.

Board members also asked about outreach to middle school students and earlier career exposure. The presenters and Dr. Kimsey said the effort includes collaboration with middle‑level student engagement coordinators and counselors to provide career exploration beginning as early as sixth grade, with counseling and concurrent‑enrollment information provided to students and families.

The presentation emphasized that every D60 high school will remain a comprehensive school with traditional activities and that the CTE revisions are intended to add specialized pathways rather than remove core high school offerings.

Board President Panunzio thanked the principals for the presentation; the district did not take any final votes during this part of the meeting.

The district said the final report and recommendations will go to the superintendent’s cabinet for review and then to the Board of Education (anticipated January 2026) for final approval, at which point any program changes and implementation plans would be communicated to stakeholders.