Senate committee hears testimony on Operating Engineers high‑school pathway; $500,000 appropriation laid over

Senators on the Senate Labor Committee gathered March 4 to consider Senate File 15‑43, a proposal from Senator Brad Putnam to appropriate $500,000 from the state’s workforce development fund to school districts that enroll students in the Operating Engineers (OE) high‑school pathway.

The program connects high‑school students to heavy equipment training through Minnesota Virtual Academy and Local 49. “This is a program that has been established, that is well established, that is doing good for young people and for labor in the state of Minnesota,” Senator Brad Putnam said, introducing the bill.

Program leaders and beneficiaries described rapid growth and multiple credit pathways. Jenny Winkler, director of workforce and community development for Operating Engineers Local 49, told the committee the OE pathway launched in 2020 and has enrolled students from more than 150 school districts. She said the program’s delivery combines virtual coursework with hands‑on events; students may earn high‑school elective credit, articulated college credit for three of four core courses through North Hennepin Community College, and apprenticeship credit toward Local 49. Winkler said the program had 57 enrollments in its first semester and 333 enrollments in the spring term referenced in testimony. She described in‑person pilots at Wright/Right Tech and a planned partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools and the Saint Paul Port Authority.

Mary Moran, superintendent of Houston Public Schools and Minnesota Virtual Academy, described the virtual platform’s flexibility to reach students statewide and summarized the curriculum modules — construction exploration, basic grading and construction math, equipment fundamentals and basic equipment maintenance. Local industry partners host hands‑on events; testimony said the program increased from three hands‑on events one year to ten the next. Marley Sherbin, a program graduate now a third‑year Local 49 apprentice, described taking the pathway courses in high school, passing the placement exam and beginning paid work in July 2022.

An industry representative for AIMS Construction told the committee hands‑on events are an effective recruitment tool and that industry partners now have waiting lists to host events. Committee members asked about outreach; Moran said outreach includes school counselors, principals, flyers, industry referrals and hands‑on events across the state.

After testimony and brief member remarks, the committee laid Senate File 15‑43 over for possible inclusion; no floor vote was taken in committee. The bill would send the $500,000 appropriation to school districts with students participating in the OE pathway to reimburse course costs and support program operations.

If advanced by the committee, the appropriation would be subject to further review and final action by the Legislature.

Sources: testimony by Senator Brad Putnam; Jenny Winkler, director of workforce and community development, Operating Engineers Local 49; Mary Moran, superintendent, Houston Public Schools and Minnesota Virtual Academy; Marley Sherbin, program graduate; industry representative, AIMS Construction.