Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Cte topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Williston Basin CTE Center opens with $20 million in funding
Summary
Williston officials showcased the new Williston Basin Career and Technical Education Center and attached Del Easton Alternative School, funded by a $10 million state legislative grant and $10 million in matching funds, including $5 million from Williams County.
Kenzie Brown, Williston Basin CTE director, said the new Williston Basin Career and Technical Education Center was built with a $10 million state legislative grant and $10 million in matching funds, including $5 million from Williams County.
The center houses classrooms and hands-on workspaces for culinary arts, construction, aviation, STEM, clothing and textiles, and health sciences, and is physically connected to the Del Easton Alternative School. "We got $10,000,000 from the state and had to come up with $10,000,000 in matching funds, $5,000,000 of which came from Williams County," Brown said.
Audrey Larson, principal at Williston High School, invited the public to tour the facility and described Del Easton as a space for students who do not fit the typical classroom. "Our Del Easton Alternative School is home to students who just don't fit in the typical classroom," Larson said. She said the attached school has four core classrooms, a parent room for babies up to six months and a resource room for students with special education needs, allowing students to earn diplomas while gaining career skills.
Program spaces include a culinary arts restaurant area with a roll-up garage door and a demonstration kitchen; a construction classroom with a large garage door designed so students can build year-round; and an aviation wing with a simulator lab and an aviation lab where students will train on drones and airplane mechanics intended to prepare them for employment at the new airport. The STEM wing includes IT, CAD and networking classes, and Brown said the center has dual-credit partnerships with Williston State and NDSCS.
The health science wing includes EMS and firefighting training with an ambulance bay for hands-on experience, a nursing lab for CNA classes with hospital beds and an on-site clinic for applied testing. A career development office and a new work-based learning coordinator will connect students with industry partners and allow students to earn class credit for workplace experience.
Officials said the center is intended to serve students in the Williston area and surrounding communities and to prepare students for college and the local workforce. The tour concluded with thanks from Brown and Larson and an invitation for the public to visit the new center.
