Tomball ISD trustees hear multi-year CTE growth report; district eyes Warehouse 7 remodel, expanded internships
Summary
Tomball ISD staff presented a 15-year review and future vision for career and technical education, highlighting program growth (27 programs), rising certifications, industry partnerships and plans to remodel Warehouse 7 for new P-TECH academies; the board agreed to consider expanding paid internships next week.
TOMBALL, Texas — Tomball ISD trustees on Wednesday received a multi-year progress and planning report on the district—s career and technical education (CTE) programs that outlined rapid program growth, rising student credentials and proposals to expand facilities and work-based learning.
Superintendent Martha Salazar Zarrow introduced the discussion and handed the presentation to Chief Academic Officer Dr. Michael Webb, who said the district now lists 27 CTE programs of study and has added 63 CTE courses since 2021, bringing the catalog to 128 courses. "We have 27 programs of study," Webb said, noting that roughly half the district—s CTE courses were added within the past five years.
Webb and district CTE staff emphasized student outcomes tied to the programs. Webb said academic achievement for students enrolled in CTE was higher than for students not enrolled in CTE, and he reported nearly 6,000 IVCs earned since 2021. The presentation also noted that about one in three Tomball graduates in the class cited during the briefing had earned a program completer designation plus an industry credential.
Carla (surname not specified in the transcript), a district CTE administrator, reviewed program design and accountability rules, including the state—s completer definition: at least three aligned CTE courses totaling a minimum of four credits, including at least one level 3 or 4 course. She told trustees that the district must perform a comprehensive local needs assessment every two years to qualify for Perkins federal funding and that state funding for CTE is tied to student participation and course level.
The presentation highlighted multiple expansions and new offerings over recent years: dual-credit electrical technology, aviation pilot training, cybersecurity, a relocated graphic design fabrication lab at the Tomball Innovation Center, a Tomball Academy of Health Care P-TECH, and a vocational agricultural center. Webb said the district added a CTE work-based learning specialist and CTE counselors at both comprehensive high schools to support recruitment and retention.
Staff described ongoing work-based learning efforts and a summer youth employment program run with the Tomball Economic Development Corporation that pays participating students $15 an hour. A student intern who spoke to the trustees, identified as Marcy from Tomball Memorial High School, said the internship gave her practical experience and confidence: "I feel I have a confidence, and I have a way — you know, about myself now that I didn't have before," she said. District staff told the board they will bring a proposal next week to expand the paid internship program year-round and fund additional paid placements aligned with students—career fields.
Looking ahead, staff presented a multi-year vision that includes remodeling Warehouse 7 (construction projected to start in 2028) to create classroom and lab space for additional P-TECH programs, including a proposed Tomball Academy of Cybersecurity. Webb identified tentative higher-education and business partners for the cybersecurity academy as Sam Houston State University and Willowbrook Methodist Hospital, respectively, and said agreements for relocating the dual-credit electrical program from Lone Star College Creekside to the Innovation Center are being finalized.
Supervising staff also raised the possibility of regional funding support for an AI/virtual reality collaborative learning space: Superintendent Zarrow said she has a meeting planned with Region 4—s executive director to explore regional investment in a demonstration and classroom facility at Warehouse 7 that other districts could use.
Trustees asked for labor-market data to validate program priorities and to better understand demand for construction, HVAC and other high-skill trades. Board members questioned whether facility limitations and student interest should guide which programs the district prioritizes next. Staff noted opportunities to partner with neighboring districts and local colleges to accelerate certain programs and to share specialized facilities.
The meeting concluded with brief board comments. A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. McStravick, seconded by Mr. White, and the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:50 p.m. Central.
What—s next: staff will provide trustees with regional labor-market data tied to CTE program proposals and return next week with an action item to consider expanding the paid internship program.
