Anoka‑Hennepin outlines CTE pathways, industry partnerships and student outcomes at Oct. 6 work session

At its Oct. 6 work session, the Anoka‑Hennepin Public School District Board of Education heard a comprehensive update on Career and Technical Education (CTE) from Jess Lipa, the district’s director of career and technical education, and a panel of industry partners and instructors. The presentation described program pathways across the district’s five high schools and the district technical center (STEP), employer partnerships that provide internships and apprenticeships, and student outcomes including credentialing and college credits.

Lipa told the board the district aligns CTE courses to the National Career Clusters Framework and regional labor-market data, and works with industry advisory boards “to provide rigorous and . . . academic and technical skills” that connect students to postsecondary training and employment. She said advisory boards are required by state rules and that Minnesota Department of Education guidance expects business and industry representation on those boards, adding that advisory members often provide internships, teacher professional development and advice on equipment purchases.

Panelists from local employers described how partnerships translate into paid internships and hiring pipelines. Brian Dischinger, foreman at MATE Precision Tooling, said the company uses student internships and apprenticeships to “develop the future manufacturing workforce,” with students learning CNC and manual machining, quality inspection and shop productivity. Representatives from Blaine Brothers described hiring graduates of the district’s transportation and diesel programs and said internship-to-hire conversions are common.

The board and staff discussed program capacity, instructor licensure and how students are placed with employers. Lipa and partners said placements typically follow student interest inventories, tours and interviews; employers generally conduct phone screens and on-site interviews before offering internships. She also summarized program approvals and credentials the district maintains, including an approved Department of Health nursing assistant program at STEP, an FAA private pilot ground school approval, ASC (automotive service) approval and American Welding Society certifications in certain courses. Lipa said some programs must meet age, facility and licensing requirements and that the availability of licensed instructors is an ongoing staffing challenge.

District data presented by Lipa show that in 2024, 78 percent of Anoka‑Hennepin high school students took at least one CTE course, and 93 percent of CTE students graduated in four years. She explained state definitions used by the district: a CTE “participant” is any student who took one course; a CTE “concentrator” completed roughly 150 hours in a career field (about three classes in the district). Lipa also described College Now, an early-college program at STEP in partnership with Anoka‑Ramsey Community College that cohorts juniors and seniors and, when both years are completed, can yield roughly 34 transferable college credits.

Board members pressed on access and capacity. Lipa said STEP seats are staffed and scheduled by student registration, that some high-demand courses have waiting lists, and that the district works to replicate advanced offerings at high schools when STEP capacity limits access. On instructor recruitment, she said Minnesota licensing rules (PELBS and state approvals mentioned in the presentation) allow initial CTE licenses for candidates with relevant industry experience, and the district supports teachers through professional development and grant-funded licensure pathways.

Directors and presenters highlighted industry programs that are expanding: Polaris and Yamaha partnerships provide modern engines and equipment for transportation programs; a state Youth Skills Training agreement with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry allows supervised work on some hazardous equipment for students under 18; and a new full-version commercial driver’s license (CDL) program is planned to offer ground-school hours next year. Board members praised the program and the partnerships as both student supports and workforce pipelines.

Votes at a glance: the meeting opened and closed with routine procedural votes recorded on the transcript. The board approved the meeting agenda (motion moved by Director Langenfeld, seconded by Director Odette; vote 6–0) and approved the consent agenda (motion moved by Director Odette, seconded by Director D'Shane; vote 6–0). Later the board voted (6–0) to move into two closed executive sessions: labor negotiations and attorney–client privileged matters.

The presentation will return to the board as staffing, enrollment and program expansion decisions arise; district staff said they are monitoring employer demand and student registration patterns to guide future investments.