Superintendent lays out multi-year plan to expand CTE at John Harris campus

Superintendent Ben Henry told the board May 27 the district will pursue a phased expansion of career and technical education (CTE) at John Harris campus to provide students earlier access to credentials, dual enrollment and work-based learning.

Henry said the administration will adopt a stepwise approach, using the 2025–26 school year for planning and subsequent years for phased implementation. The plan centers on four pillars: revamping the School of Business & Industry (SBI) to add accounting and human-resources credentials; building computer-science and cyber/IT offerings in partnership with Harrisburg University; launching an EMT (emergency medical technician) pathway in collaboration with local medical partners; and developing a pre-apprenticeship program tied to industry partners and apprenticeship pathways.

Henry described the timeline as intentionally gradual. Staff will spend 2025–26 planning and vetting curriculum, partnerships, equipment and staffing. The district plans to implement revamped SBI courses in 2026–27; begin a cybersecurity/networking/tech-support sequence soon after in partnership with Harrisburg University and HACC; start planning EMT coursework in 2026–27 with implementation estimated for 2027–28; and stage pre-apprenticeship work so elements of it are available as early as 2027–28 with fuller implementation later.

Henry emphasized dual enrollment and industry certification: the district will pursue college-credit arrangements and certification opportunities with local partners (Harrisburg University, HACC and local health providers) and build work-based learning, co-op and apprenticeship connections. He characterized the plan as "CTE light" designed to start with modest infrastructure and expand over several years without requiring immediate large capital investments. He said space is available on John Harris's first floor for CTE labs and that the district will use existing budget lines earmarked for CTE and staggered hiring to limit near-term cost impact.

Board members supported moving forward while asking for details on costs, staffing and timelines. Mister Thompson Leader and others praised the approach as responsive to students who need direct pathways to careers. Henry said staff will return with implementation milestones and budget details as planning proceeds.

Ending

Henry framed the initiative as a way to provide students who do not choose a four-year college path with marketable skills and alternate career pathways, and he asked the board to support phased planning and targeted investments.