At the town-hall meeting, residents and supervisors described growing career and technical education efforts in King George County schools. Officials said the county and school system have been expanding CTE programs, including horticulture, welding, architecture and shop courses, and noted the school’s workforce-development coordinator has run a pilot program with graduates who have earned trade credentials.

Supervisors and residents said the county has funded building upgrades to restore a shop facility and that the program has graduated students who moved directly into apprenticeships and paid work — examples cited included a student moving toward a journeyman electrician role at a regional resort project. Officials said the program also holds “reverse interviews” where students present to business and agency representatives to practice interviewing and to be recruited into local positions.

Several speakers urged further expansion of trades programs — automotive, culinary, welding and other applied skills — and described partnerships with local employers (including union electrical apprenticeships and open-shop opportunities) to create direct pipelines to work. Supervisors said some career-path training has liability and cost challenges (for example, certain shop classes require safety and insurance arrangements), but that the county had earmarked funds to reopen and upgrade shop facilities and was encouraging local employers to hire graduates.

Ending: Supervisors said the county will continue to support CTE expansion and employer partnerships as an alternative career path for students and as a way to meet anticipated local hiring demands.