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Forney ISD outlines Opportunity Central expansion, reports growth in dual-credit and industry credentials
Summary
At its regular meeting the Forney ISD Board heard a comprehensive "Future Ready" update from Chief of Innovation and Information Robin Pierce outlining growth at the district's Opportunity Central (OC): more dual-credit enrollment, rising industry certification counts, and expanded student-run enterprises and community classes.
The Forney Independent School District Board of Trustees heard a detailed "Future Ready" update from Robin Pierce, chief of innovation and information, during the board's regular meeting. Pierce said Opportunity Central (the OC) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are expanding dual-credit offerings, industry certifications and community-facing programs.
Pierce told the board the district now has more than 1,200 students taking at least one dual-credit course, up from just over 1,000 last year, and that the district estimates parents have saved $818,179 in tuition and instructional resource costs through dual-credit offerings the district pays for. She said the district expects 36 students to graduate this year with associate degrees and that Forney ISD currently offers 93 dual-credit classes (up from 78 last year).
Pierce described increases in industry certifications and career-training cohorts. She said the HVAC program will have an 11-student Level 1 cohort (its second cohort), and that health-science patient-care testing has yielded 20 certifications so far, with a second round of testing planned in April. Pierce also said Forney ISD is offering 19 industry certifications districtwide and that last year 335 students earned industry credentials.
The presentation covered student-enterprise and engagement activity at the OC: students have run catering events, a dog-care service, floral and balloon businesses, salons and other enterprises. Pierce reported student enterprises produced 225 Thanksgiving pies, served more than 300 meals at community events, serviced over 115 dogs in the doggy daycare, and produced roughly 700 floral/balloon arrangements. She said the OC currently employs 85 students through the district's "engage" program and that youth sports participation and community class enrollment are growing.
Pierce described other OC initiatives: a new student-run agency to connect local businesses with student teams for marketing and design work; opportunity talks and college and career panels; face-to-face community classes in the evenings (including welding, HVAC and health-science tracks); and an expanded externship program in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission that will send students and teachers to business sites for credit and experience.
Board members asked for a printed copy of the slides and Pierce agreed to provide a black-and-white printout and to email the materials. Pierce closed by listing upcoming OC events: career fair, more opportunity talks and a fashion show from the fashion-design program.
Why it matters: Pierce framed the OC expansion as both a workforce pipeline and a cost-saving measure for families, with increasing numbers of students earning college credit and industry credentials before graduation.
