Buena High principal outlines CTE expansion, board approves four CTE job descriptions

Buena High School’s principal presented a broad update on the school’s career and technical education (CTE) programs and asked the Sierra Vista Unified District governing board to approve new and revised grant-funded positions to support program growth.

The principal told the board that “CTE is a big part of our school,” describing more than a dozen CTE programs at Buena, dual-enrollment partnerships with Cochise College and the University of Arizona, and recent expansions in culinary, nursing, HVAC and welding that allow students to earn industry credentials and college credit. The principal said the school is proposing changes to existing job titles and four CTE-funded positions to improve program oversight, data tracking, inventory management and classroom safety.

The proposal described two reclassified positions (an updated grants/budget manager role and a CTE program coordinator) and two newly created, grant-funded jobs: an information-management specialist responsible for CTE data and reporting and a CTE paraprofessional to support hands-on labs. The presenter said those positions would be paid from three CTE funding streams — federal Perkins grants, state priority grants, and Cochise Technology District (CTED) funds — and that the reorganization would be covered by existing CTE FTEs with “no impact on M&O.”

Board members heard that CTE funding is distributed through multiple pots and is tied to enrollment and special-population metrics, which affect how much money the district receives. The principal described advisory councils for each CTE program, state program monitoring that yielded programs with distinction, and the importance of tracking post‑graduation outcomes as part of state reporting requirements.

The board voted to adopt job descriptions and authorize advertising/hiring for the requested positions. Recorded board actions related to CTE that were taken during the meeting: approval of the job description for Budget Specialist for CTE (passed 5–0); approval of the CTE Program Coordinator job description (passed 5–0); approval of the Information Specialist for CTE job description (passed 5–0); and approval of the Paraprofessional Classroom Support (CTE) job description (passed 5–0). Administration recommended all four and the board adopted them unanimously.

The principal emphasized program goals for 2025–26, including stronger professional development for teachers, increasing year‑two retention in multi‑year programs, raising state technical skills assessment scores, expanding middle‑school outreach and internships, and improving student leadership training for CTSO clubs such as DECA and SkillsUSA. The principal also described the need for a dedicated staff member to manage CTE travel, audits, capital requests and program monitoring so teachers can focus on instruction.

The presentation included examples of dual-enrollment and industry certification: third‑year engineering students earning University of Arizona credit, welding and HVAC dual enrollment at Cochise College, and nursing students leaving with CNA and EKG certification plus medical terminology coursework. The principal said enhanced data tracking would support accurate state reporting and ensure the district receives appropriate CTE funding.

The board discussion focused on implementation and timing. Administration said if the board approved the job descriptions, Human Resources would post the vacancies and begin recruitment. The presenter and administration reiterated the positions are grant-funded and would not use general M&O funds.

The board did not discuss salary schedules for the new roles in detail at the meeting; administration indicated wage placement alignment will follow existing clerical and information management support wage plans where applicable and that the CTE funding streams would cover costs.

Votes at a glance: Budget Specialist for CTE — approved 5–0; CTE Program Coordinator — approved 5–0; Information Specialist for CTE — approved 5–0; Paraprofessional Classroom Support (CTE) — approved 5–0.

The principal closed by inviting questions and offering to provide additional documentation about program monitoring findings and advisory-council recommendations in follow-up materials.