Teachers and students urge National City leaders for $250,000 ventilation fix at Sweetwater welding academy

A trio of speakers from the Sweetwater Union High School District told the National City City Council during public comment that the district’s campus welding academy is unable to provide full training because of ventilation and power issues and asked the city to help recruit partners and funding.

Paul Wabnowski, a teacher and civil service chair who says he teaches English within the welding academy at Sweetwater, told the council the welding shop is “in dire straits” and students are limited to welding from only one position because of the ventilation system. "The facility needs a quarter of a million dollars in work to change the ventilation system so that the students can actually do the work that gets them certified," he said, adding that the academy also has separate power‑capacity problems that prevent full operation.

Student speaker Natsumi (Yareli) Cruz said she has been in the program for three years and that the class was once a “fully functioning workshop” that helped students graduate and enter the workforce. “With the current state of the program, it has felt like that future has practically shattered now,” she said. She said previous industry partners have stepped back and the district is unlikely to be able to cover the ventilation repairs.

Wabnowski told council members the district’s CTE staff and school principals are aware of the issues and that the program needs outside partnership because the school district likely lacks the funds to pay for the full ventilation upgrade and electrical work.

What they asked of the council: The speakers asked city officials to help locate funding partners, raise awareness among potential industry partners, and explore other funding avenues so students can complete certification courses and enter the workforce. They asked for help because the welding academy provides a career path for students who are not pursuing college and because the program has motivated students to graduate and participate in school activities.

No formal council action was taken on the request during the meeting; councilmembers directed staff at the public‑comment follow‑up to connect the speakers with District and city staff to identify responsible agencies and potential funding sources, according to the mayor’s remarks.

Why it matters: The academy’s inability to perform standard welding tasks limits students’ ability to earn industry certifications, which are the principal route to immediate employment for many program participants. The school representative said the estimated cost for ventilation upgrades is roughly $250,000 and that additional electrical work will be required.