Duluth Public Schools expands CTE offerings as enrollments more than double; FAA grant pursued for aviation mechanics

Duluth Public Schools officials told the school board Feb. 25 that Career and Technical Education (CTE) enrollment has more than doubled year-over-year as the district expands pathways, regional partnerships and work-based learning.

Danette Sebo, principal on special assignment overseeing CTE, presented program growth figures and next steps. Semester course enrollments rose from about 2,079 in 2023-24 to 4,393 in 2024-25, the presentation showed. Denfeld increased CTE sections from 49 to 59; East increased from 57 to 96 (numbers reflect semester course enrollments and section counts per presenter). Sebo said many classes are operating at capacity, teachers are on overloads, and tech-tutor positions are being used to help manage lab supervision and safety requirements.

Sebo said the district's regional focus targets healthcare, manufacturing and construction as high-demand fields for northeastern Minnesota. Regular regional events noted by presenters include Construct Tomorrow (trades), Discover Healthcare and an annual tour of manufacturers; the district also organizes college and workplace visits for counselors, integration specialists and mentors to better align student exposure and advising.

Sebo described program features that include advisory boards with local business and college partners, industry-standard equipment and pathways that can lead to certificates, articulated college credit or direct job placement. She cited research the district uses in recruitment: students who concentrate in CTE pathways show higher graduation and early-career employment rates; Sebo said high school graduation among CTE concentrators is about 92 percent and that two-thirds go on to postsecondary education.

The board heard about planned course additions and pilots: a proposed EMT program (pending instructor and certification arrangements), potential aviation mechanics programming in partnership with Cirrus, and expanded simulated student-run business experiences (SBEs) such as "Greyhound Manufacturing" and "Hunter Manufacturing" to integrate business, finance and marketing students into polished, student-run services.

District officials said the state and federal funding picture is important for sustainability. The district applied for a Federal Aviation Administration grant worth roughly $993,960 to support an aviation-mechanics pathway shared between Duluth and regional partners; finance would cover initial staffing and equipment if received, with local sustainment planned afterward. Superintendent Magus and Danette Sebo also described coordination with Lake Superior College, the University of Minnesota Duluth and regional workforce partners. Magus said a Duluth Promise pilot bill before the legislature could provide $500,000 ($250,000 per year for two years) in start-up funding if enacted.

Board members asked about class sizes, wait lists and admitting students from other districts. Sebo said many programs have statutory or safety-driven capacity limits; some advanced courses run only if sufficient students sign up. She confirmed the recent schedule change (a seven-period day) increased students' ability to take electives, which contributed to enrollment growth, but also required more staffing and supply funding.

Sebo highlighted next steps: pursue grant funding (FAA and others), develop EMT and aviation programs if grants and instructors are secured, grow student-run business models, and align regional college and employer partners. The district said it will continue recruiting licensed CTE instructors and pursuing reimbursement opportunities (CTE courses are eligible for state reimbursement currently coded at 35 percent; a proposed increase to 50 percent in the legislature would raise district reimbursements if enacted).

Presenters and board members agreed to follow up on licensing, supply funding and scheduling to reduce wait lists and ensure continuity of programs.

Sources: CTE presentation to the Duluth Public School Board, Feb. 25, 2025; comments by Danette Sebo and Superintendent Magus at the meeting.