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Riverside students showcase business-marketing CTE program; program reports $7,500 revenue and growing community contracts
Summary
Students and staff from Riverside High School presented examples of student work and described a student-run business-marketing pathway that has generated roughly $7,500 in revenue and is expanding outreach, online sales and phone/email ordering. Board members praised the program and a community member offered to donate a Roland cutter.
Riverside High School students and their teacher showcased a career and technical education (CTE) business-marketing program to the West Linn-Wilsonville School Board, describing hands-on work that has produced banners, T-shirts, stickers and local contracts and raised about $7,500 in revenue in the past year.
The presentation, led by teacher Mike Mitchell and a team of student speakers including Val Bonner and Riley Dan Sant, outlined classroom instruction in industry-standard software and equipment such as direct-to-garment printing and digital design tools. Students described building invoices, working with actual clients and completing jobs for district activities, the school band and local businesses including Roxy’s Café and an After Hours maintenance company. Mitchell said the program has developed an online store and will use revenues to pay for supplies, ink and equipment maintenance.
Board members and Superintendent Kathy Ludwig applauded the program as an example of work-based learning and community partnership. Vice Chair Wyatt asked how small businesses could place orders; staff said the program had a phone line (district main number, ext. 6500) and an email account for orders (RHS-business@wlwv.k12 noted during the presentation).
During public remarks on the program, a community member offered to donate a Roland cutter (a large-format cutter with multiple cartridges) after asking whether the district had space and staffing to accept an additional machine. Program staff said they could find space and welcomed donations; the donor and staff agreed to follow up about pickup and logistics.
Students described their learning outcomes in practical terms: using Adobe Illustrator and other design tools, preparing vector art for print, making invoices and communicating with clients. Mitchell said about half of the program’s reported revenue came from banner and apparel orders for district uses and local businesses, and that the program is intended to be at least partially self-sustaining so student work can fund supplies and future equipment upgrades.
Board members asked several operational questions about equipment (cut and perf capability of the Roland machines), phone and email contact, and the program’s plans for an online store and portfolio folders for students. Multiple board members encouraged the students to continue their work and praised their public presentation skills.
The school and program leaders said the CTE pathway aims to provide multiple entry points for students, let students hold specific jobs (e.g., banner printing, invoicing, sales) and teach real-world business practices. Mitchell and Assistant CTE coordinator Lauren Appy were acknowledged for grant work and obtaining the district’s machinery; Mitchell said the program only scaled up last academic year as machines arrived and students were trained. Contact details shared during the presentation: district phone (main line) with extension 6500 for the RHS business line; the program intends to operate an online store in the near term.
Board and staff comments ended with public thanks to the students, the program staff and community volunteers who support the pathway. The board encouraged continued partnership with local businesses and the ESD for work-based learning opportunities.
