District 5 outlines bond-funded CTE upgrades including AI lab, HVAC program and CDL training

School District Five officials presented details of career and technical education projects planned or underway using bond and partner funding, including a digital solutions and artificial intelligence lab at Dutch Fork High School and a new construction lab to house heavy-equipment and construction trades programs.

"We're doing a digital solutions and artificial intelligence lab at Dutch Fork High," said David Prigge, director for career and technical education, describing projects tied to the district's recent bond. He told the board the Siemens engineering lab is on track to start in August and that the district expects to introduce an artificial-intelligence program in 2026–27 after the state releases curriculum and standards.

Prigge described a plan to build a construction lab on the CTE campus that would house heavy-equipment operator instruction and move building construction, electricity and welding into the new facility. That would free space to add commercial driver's license (CDL), diesel technician and drone-technology courses. Prigge said the district already has a drone club that competed recently and won a judges' award.

The board heard that the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) program will launch at the center this August, the first such high-school program in the Midlands. Prigge said program details and certification pathways are being developed by a steering committee and by the district's education oversight team; he said the district plans to use National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum and offer multiple high-school level HVAC certifications, including industry-recognized credentials.

Trustees asked how programs were selected. Prigge said the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce publishes a list of priority occupations and that CDL and diesel technician occupations rank near the top. "That's how we decide because that shows the need not only in The Midlands but statewide," he said.

Prigge also outlined community and industry partnerships. He said the district expects donations of trucks and trailers and named the South Carolina Trucking Association and Midlands Technical College as partners for CDL training. The Irmo High small-business student incubator described by Prigge would work like a student "Shark Tank," offering year-round mentorship and CTE work-based credit toward career/college readiness requirements.

Tina McCaskill, chief of academics, introduced Prigge and noted the district's effort to align CTE offerings with state priorities and local workforce needs. Board members asked whether artificial-intelligence instruction would use U.S.-based platforms; Prigge said, "We don't use anything unless it is USA."

Prigge and district staff said some equipment will be donated and that industry partners will serve on advisory panels; questions from trustees focused on access for students across the district, certification outcomes for graduates, and how the district will keep programs current as technology evolves.

The board did not take a formal vote on specific CTE procurements at the meeting; the presentation described programs, timelines and expected partnerships for projects funded by the bond and other sources.

Ending: District staff said they will bring additional implementation details, steering-committee compositions and certification lists to future meetings as contracts and purchase schedules are finalized.