Mr. Balagadd, the district’s career and technical education (CTE) presenter, told the Board of Trustees that CTE enrollment and performance remain strong and that recent grant money has funded new equipment and staff positions.

Balagadd said the programs increase attendance and graduation rates and provide students with job-ready skills. "They graduate at higher rates than students that are not in career and tech ed," he said. He noted a districtwide effort to give students industry-recognized credentials and workplace-readiness training.

The presentation summarized program-of-study offerings, student organizations and assessment results. Balagadd described state-mandated end-of-program exams and the workplace readiness skills assessment (WRS), which the district uses as a common assessment: "We use it for our student learning goal... we give a test right at the beginning of the school year to get a baseline," he said. Balagadd said the district now can report certain industry-recognized credentials to the state to support students’ competitiveness for jobs.

He reviewed equipment purchases funded by competitive grants, including a CNC plasma table and modern labs for automotive, welding and engineering classes, and said the district brought in about $300,000 in competitive grant funds in the prior year. A $107,941 grant originally intended to create a hospitality program instead supported an additional culinary section and a work-based learning coordinator position; Carrie Stack was hired to fill that role.

Balagadd highlighted hands-on learning and employer partnerships. He described welding students who earned welding certifications at Reed High School and said there were six certification opportunities this year. He also described plans to coordinate field trips and tours with local employers — including a construction-day trip to Reno — and community outreach to place students in internships and entry-level jobs.

Board members and local employers in the audience praised the CTE work. One attendee who identified herself as a local business owner said graduates arrive with OSHA training and entry-level skills, and Balagadd noted that employers sometimes offer wage increases when students can present proof of credentials.

The presentation included student artifacts and a demonstration of student-made projects produced on the CNC/plasma table.

Balagadd said the department will continue to pursue grant funding and employer partnerships to expand programs, and that staff will work on master-schedule alignment if the district pursues a new construction-related program of study.

The board did not take formal action on programs during the presentation; Balagadd said he would continue working with administration and partners to implement work-based learning opportunities and potential new programs.

Ending: The district’s CTE director asked the board and community to support continued employer partnerships and grant-seeking to sustain program equipment, certifications and the new work-based learning role.