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Newcastle High student urges support for CTE, describes FBLA activities and funding needs
Summary
A junior representing FBLA told the Weston County School Board about the role of career and technical education (CTE) and the chapter's activities; board members discussed the programs' importance and noted funding implications, including Perkins funding.
Presley Fitzwater, a junior at Newcastle High School and chapter reporter for the school's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, presented to the Weston County School Board on March 12 about FBLA activities, Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes and how CTE supports student engagement and career readiness.
Fitzwater said CTE “prepares youth and adults for a wide range of high wage, high skill, and high demand careers,” and described classes offered at the school, including desktop publishing, personal finance, multimedia, welding and culinary arts. She told the board FBLA and CTE activities helped her build a resume and confidence, which she said she used to apply for a state FBLA office and other positions.
Why it matters: School leaders said CTE and associated student organizations keep some students engaged, and district staff noted that CTE success can affect Perkins funding. Board members praised students and staff who support CTE programming.
Fitzwater described the FBLA “champion chapter” recognition process and recounted competing at the national level: “I've attended nationals 2 years for FBLA and competed at that level,” she said. She also talked about the linkage between CTE course completions and school funding, telling trustees that passing CTE pathway assessments can contribute to district Perkins funding.
Board members and staff responded with praise and questions about student perceptions of CTE. Trustee Brad LaCroix asked Fitzwater to share student views of legislative proposals that critics say would reduce support for CTE; Fitzwater said many students see CTE as a place to succeed outside traditional classrooms and that the programs broaden post-graduation opportunities. A board member noted the district currently receives funding for “six-tenths of one teacher” for CTE at the state level and said that level is insufficient for the programs the district provides.
The board acknowledged recent local successes that illustrate the district's extracurricular engagement — for example, student fundraisers that raised money for Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming and for a local family, and student teams that qualified for state competitions — and encouraged continued promotion of CTE and student organizations to incoming students.
No formal action was taken; the presentation was received as part of visitor comments.
