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Lindbergh awarded $400,000 DESE grant to launch high-school certified nursing assistant program
Summary
Lindbergh Schools is one of six Missouri districts awarded up to $400,000 to start a high-school certified nursing assistant (CNA) pathway. The two-year program will offer hands-on clinical experience, a CNA certification opportunity and dual-credit possibilities; the grant covers 75% of start-up costs with a 25% district match.
Lindbergh Schools will start a new high-school certified nursing assistant (CNA) program after receiving a DESE "limited access" CTE grant allocation of $400,000, district staff told the board. The state’s total allocation for the grant program was $2 million, and Lindbergh is one of six districts awarded funds; district staff said Lindbergh received the maximum $400,000 per-district award.
Assistant superintendents and high school staff said the program targets a documented shortage in health-care occupations and will reduce access barriers for students who cannot attend South Tech’s CNA instruction because of enrollment limits or scheduling conflicts. Staff said South Tech serves many districts and that Lindbergh students who must travel to South Tech often lose half of a school day to travel and scheduling.
The program is designed as a two-year sequence. Students must be at least 16 (generally starting junior year) to enroll. Year 1 will be primarily in-class instruction (two class periods/preps), including CPR and OSHA training; year 2 will include clinical time at a partner long-term-care facility with students completing approximately 100 clinical hours and year-2 students occupying three preps because of clinical scheduling. At the end of the two years, students will be eligible to sit for the CNA certification exam, and staff said the district intends to pursue dual-credit arrangements (South Tech currently partners with Missouri Baptist for 8 hours of anatomy/physiology credit) so Lindbergh students can receive college credit.
High school staff said the grant covers initial capital and program start-up; the DESE grant is 75 percent state funded and requires a 25 percent district match. Staff said they will post a job for a part-time instructor for year 1 and plan for a full-time instructor in year 2. The district said sustainability planning includes reapplying for next-year grants and exploring how CTE funding and grant timelines may shift costs across district programs.
District leaders expect the program will reduce the number of Lindbergh students turned away from South Tech (staff cited 16 students turned away last year) and said in-house programming will eliminate transportation and schedule barriers for some students. Enrollment will be competitive; staff said they plan an application process and screening to select participants for the initial cohort (15 students per instructor is the program cap described).
Board members applauded the award and discussed expansion and future site needs; administrators said they are coordinating clinical placements with local long-term-care partners and exploring dual-credit arrangements and sustainability strategies.
