Dearborn official summarizes career and technical education offerings, funding shortfalls and new cybersecurity program
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Summary
District CTE director John Bridal briefed the board on 11 programs at the Michael Berry Career Center, recent grants (including a $250,000 cybersecurity award), a roughly 34% state funding cut, and plans to expand trade and apprenticeship pathways.
John Bridal, director of career and technical education for the Dearborn City School District, told the school board that the district runs 11 CTE programs at the Michael Berry Career Center and is pursuing expansions in cybersecurity and skilled trades.
Bridal said the programs combine standard academic curriculum with hands-on skill training, work-based learning, industry certifications and college-credit opportunities through articulation agreements with Henry Ford Community College.
Bridal framed the update by noting February is Career and Technical Education Month and by introducing Chef Karen Pokrifke, the culinary arts teacher who runs the school restaurant, Ellie’s Eatery, and whose students compete in statewide ProStart events.
He described the CTE offerings as culinary arts and hospitality; a business academy; allied health; pre-education; criminal justice and law; automotive technology; computer programming; construction trades; cybersecurity and IT; digital design; and welding. Bridal said automotive, construction trades and welding have limited access for some students because certified programs are only offered at other district high schools (Edsel Ford and Fordson), and that geographic access and space can prevent Dearborn High students from participating.
Bridal identified several funding items. He said the district received a $250,000 grant last year to start a cybersecurity program at the Michael Berry Center; the program is running this year as an unfunded elective while the district completes a state approval process that Bridal expects will allow the program to be funded in the next school year and to be backdated once approved. He said the cybersecurity program will be submitted as three separate programs for funding (first, second and third year) because each year aligns to different career paths (IT help desk/repair, networking/management, then cybersecurity).
Bridal said the district also is pursuing a potential $2.5 million skilled-trades grant and recently received a $20,000 grant through the Education Foundation and Ford to buy a robot for the skilled-trades program. He said state CTE funding (Section 61a) declined about 34% this year, driven by lower enrollment and reduced one-time federal support, and that state curriculum leaders have asked the governor and State Board of Education for increased funding.
Enrollment and certifications: Chef Pokrifke told the board she currently teaches 22 first-year culinary students and 11 second-year students; Bridal said the cybersecurity program has “a little over 30” students enrolled across sections and that some third-year students came from the DCMST track. Bridal also highlighted industry certifications students earn — he cited ASE/industry mechanic certifications and ServSafe Management certification for culinary students.
Bridal described research trips to Nashville as a model for career-centered high school programs and said the district is exploring a ninth-grade career-exploration model and other ways to better market business and trades pathways. He urged board members to meet privately to discuss long-term planning and noted an open house at the Michael Berry Career Center scheduled for March 12 (community partners 4–5 p.m., public 6–6:30 p.m.).
Bridal and board members thanked teachers and staff for grant-seeking and program implementation work; school leaders and trustees flagged a continuing need for employer advisory committees, apprenticeships and clearer access to trades programming across high schools.
