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Board approves CTE year‑2 assurances; students qualify for national SkillsUSA and DECA events
Summary
The board approved the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Year‑2 assurances and heard student successes from SkillsUSA and DECA. Staff outlined grant support, growth in industry credentials and plans to expand middle‑school career exploration.
The Orange County Board of Education approved the district’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) assurances for the Year‑2 local application on May 5 and heard presentations from teachers and students who recently qualified for national competitions.
Ms. Braxton, the district CTE director, told the board that CTE delivered industry‑aligned credentials at no cost to students and that 1,430 individual credentials were earned in the 2023–24 school year — a substantial increase from the prior year. She said district partners, including local fire departments and emergency services, stepped in during an instructor vacancy to keep public‑safety instruction and practical labs on schedule.
Braxton described grants that expanded health‑science equipment and programs and announced plans to apply for a DPI grade‑expansion grant to fund summer planning for broad middle‑school career‑exploration activities. Those activities would include the Be Pro Be Proud skilled‑trades truck, field trips, and lesson materials for all middle‑school students.
Woodworking teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Avery Pipkin introduced two Cedar Ridge juniors who qualified for nationals: Josh Sissom (qualified for National SkillsUSA) and Tyson Oswald (second place at state, also heading to nationals). Pipkin described the SkillsUSA competition format as a timed, closed‑task environment where students must complete projects with no outside assistance.
Ms. Connor Budington reported that Cedar Ridge and Orange High School students attended the international DECA conference; Ellie Garman and Quinn Finnegan earned top placements at the state level and represented the district at international competition.
Board member comments praised the breadth of CTE options and their role in both student retention and career pathways. A motion to approve the CTE assurances for the 2025–26 school year passed following a motion and second; the board chair called the vote and the motion carried.
District staff said they would continue work with the joint CTE business advisory council (a multi‑district body with minutes and membership posted on the district website), pursue grant funding for green‑house and health‑science expansions, and proceed with the DPI application to support middle‑school career exploration and summer programming.
The board’s action releases state and federal CTE funds for next year once the signed assurances are returned by the chair, superintendent and finance officer, Ms. Rhonda Rath.
