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Sharyland ISD lays out CTE expansion: HVAC, advanced welding, engineering, robotics and an entrepreneurship 'Incubator'
Summary
District CTE staff proposed six new programs of study (HVAC, exercise science, civil and electrical engineering, robotics/automation and structural welding), practicums with community partners and adoption of an Incubator entrepreneurship curriculum; start‑up costs for HVAC and welding are estimated at $250,000.
Sharyland ISD CTE staff told trustees the district plans to introduce multiple new career and technical education pathways and to expand entrepreneurship and practicum opportunities for students beginning in the 2025‑26 cycle.
CTE presenters said the district will add new programs of study including HVAC, exercise science (health science cluster), civil engineering and electrical engineering (engineering cluster), robotics/automation (manufacturing cluster) and an advanced structural welding pathway separate from agricultural welding. They said welding would continue in agriculture programs but the new manufacturing pathway would go deeper into structural welding and industry certifications.
Presenters said the district will incorporate practicums and community‑based placements across programs of study and expand entrepreneurship offerings districtwide with an “Incubator” curriculum that guides students from ideation through pitching and possible seed funding. Presenters described a nonprofit Incubator partner that brings mentors, coaches and investor‑style pitch events; staff noted other districts have taken student projects to market and raised funding.
Staff estimated initial startup costs for HVAC and welding programs at about $250,000 and said the two‑year rollout would begin with level‑1 and level‑2 classes. District staff cautioned about duplicating costly programs at both high schools and said they will consider offering certain equipment‑intensive pathways at one campus and allowing student transfers or shared access rather than duplicating expensive labs at both campuses.
Board members and administrators discussed alignment to regional labor market needs, certificates students can earn, and coordination with local postsecondary providers (TSTC and STC references in discussion). Presenters said the proposals are intended to increase students’ career readiness, provide certificates and create community partnerships; no board action was taken at the workshop.
