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Bemidji board hears high-school CTE presentation highlighting industry partnerships and student outcomes
Summary
Teachers and district leaders showcased Career and Technical Education programs, saying local partnerships and modern equipment connect students to jobs; presenters cited a high graduation rate among CTE participants and pledged to expand pathways with postsecondary partners.
Teachers and district leaders told the Bemidji Public School District board on Monday that Career and Technical Education programs are a key pathway to local jobs and higher graduation rates.
Tony Holmes, a construction and carpentry teacher at Bemidji High School, described a long-running student house-building project and said district partnerships with local industry have helped students move directly into work. "We build a house every year. We've been doing it since 1994," Holmes said, adding the program is a model he hopes other schools emulate. He credited partners such as Team Industries and Wells Technology with offering real-world training and employment opportunities.
Nicholas Roland, a first-year manufacturing and machine-trades teacher, described his career path and how he now teaches students to translate designs into physical parts. "This is my first year teaching, and it has been a whirlwind," Roland said, saying students learn to "imagine something" and then make it on machines in the school shop.
Superintendent Olsen and board members praised the program’s alignment with local workforce needs. The presenters said the district has articulated-credit arrangements with Northwest Technical College for programs including carpentry, electrical and plumbing, and a CNA (certified nursing assistant) pathway. The board heard a statistic presented by teachers that "92 percent of all kids who take CTE classes graduate," which district presenters used to argue CTE supports higher completion for at-risk students.
Board members asked how the district can grow enrollment and deepen employer ties. Holmes and Roland said advisory committees and employer feedback guide curriculum; the presenters urged the board to consider expanding pathways in response to local demand for health care, cybersecurity and other fields.
The presentation concluded with reminders that February is CTE month and that the district will continue working with community partners to align programs with local job needs. The board did not take formal action on CTE funding or program changes at the meeting.
