Richland 2 outlines CTE funding, new courses and high cost of welding options
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Summary
District leaders described career and technical education pathways, sources and limits of funding (Perkins and EIA), proposed adding marketing and an AI pilot at the Student Innovation Center, and discussed two costly welding options including an estimated $1 million start-up.
District leaders detailed the scope and funding of Richland School District Two's career and technical education (CTE) programs at the Jan. 13 board meeting, and presented trade-offs for expanding on-site programs such as welding.
Superintendent Dr. Moore and Chief of Operations Will Anderson said Richland 2 operates CTE pathways across five comprehensive high schools and a central Student Innovation Center. "Our total cost of our program, which includes equipment and materials but not staffing and facilities, is about $1,260,000," staff reported. They also described funding sources: federal Perkins and state Education Improvement Act (EIA) dollars are restricted to CTE uses and are the primary funding streams for program materials and certifications.
Anderson described the Student Innovation Center's role and limits: it offers specialized programs not available at all schools, has small class sizes and has relied on general-fund allocations to cover transportation and unique equipment costs. He said the district uses a hybrid delivery model that balances comprehensive high school offerings with centralized specialized courses.
On program changes, the Student Innovation Center plans to add marketing and an artificial-intelligence applications pilot for 2026–27, the latter developed in partnership with the University of South Carolina. Staff also presented two options for adding welding: building on-site welding bays with safety and facility upgrades (estimated start-up about $1,000,000) or sending students to Midlands Technical College and covering travel and scheduling impacts. Anderson said Midlands Tech staff prefer in-person training to virtual welding simulators and cautioned VR alone may not prepare students for industry expectations.
Board members voiced differing priorities. Miss Porter and Dr. Elkins Scott urged responding to student survey demand for programs such as CNA, cosmetology and cybersecurity. Mr. Trapp and Mr. Dennis emphasized hands-on, real-world training and safety as drivers of cost.
Why it matters: CTE programs connect students to local workforce needs and the district uses a regional comprehensive local needs assessment to direct restricted federal and state funds. Decisions about adding expensive, equipment-heavy programs will affect the district’s general fund and transportation workload.
Next steps: Staff recommended continued study of costs, potential partnerships (including local colleges), and phased program additions aligned with demonstrated student interest and workforce demand.