Gloucester presents CTE expansion plan; board members propose working group with business partners

Dr. Vladeu described Gloucester’s career and technical education offerings and recent trips to model sites (Danville and Culpeper) as examples for expanding local capacity. He listed existing programs — carpentry, agriculture/horticulture, NJROTC, nursing/CNA, EMT, cybersecurity, culinary, cosmetology, HVAC, plumbing, welding and automotive technology — and reported rising participation in work‑based learning (90 → 146 → 175 over recent years).

He said Gloucester High School has strong CTE engagement and noted the district can diversify pathways that lead to living‑wage skills. “If you could equip a child with a wage living skill, if you fix a car, build a house, fix some plumbing, that's a lifetime skill,” he told the joint boards.

Board members praised local programs, raised the need to poll employers and parents, and urged more student representation in planning. Several members recommended using the existing CTE committee or creating a subcommittee that would include school board and supervisor representatives, students, parents and business partners to determine whether Gloucester should expand local capacity or develop a regional center.

Next steps: board members agreed to explore forming a working group or subcommittee, engage local employers for partnerships and look for state/regional grant opportunities to fund CTE expansion.