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Parent urges Harrisonburg schools to reconsider leaving Massanutten Technical Center
Summary
A parent urged the Harrisonburg City School Board during public comment to reverse its decision to leave Massanutten Technical Center (MTC), saying local employers rely on MTC apprentices and that a standalone city CTE program will not replace the regional center.
Andrew Jenner, a Harrisonburg parent and resident, told the school board Sept. 2 he strongly urged the board to reconsider its decision to leave the Massanutten Technical Center (MTC) partnership and to rejoin the regional CTE program.
"I strongly urge you to reconsider rejoining MTC," Jenner said during the board's non-agenda public comment period. Jenner said his wife works at MTC and that his company hires MTC graduates: "Right now, I have 3 people that work for me that are in the electrical apprenticeship program, and a fourth will join them as soon as he finishes a prerequisite class." He added that the city's planned, standalone CTE program would not be "better than what we would have had" at MTC.
Jenner acknowledged friction between the city and county school boards that contributed to the separation but urged the city board to model restorative problem-solving: "Imagine if every student in the division saw you do that hard work, solve this problem, put personality and ideology aside, and do something for their benefit. Please please reconsider." He said he had discussed the matter with Superintendent Dr. Richards and sent emails to board members.
Board members later reported ongoing local work to re-envision CTE for the city. In board announcements and liaison reports, members described convening a city CTE committee and a broader re-envisioning process; those updates did not include a change in the district's current status with MTC.
No board action was taken during the meeting on rejoining MTC; the public comment was recorded for the record.
