McPherson leaders and SME Education Foundation pitch PRIME manufacturing program to USD 418 board
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Summary
MIDC and the SME Education Foundation outlined PRIME, a donor-funded manufacturing-education program that supplies curriculum, industry‑standard equipment and certifications at minimal direct cost to schools; SME said districts provide space and teacher salaries while corporate donors fund equipment and a sustainability fund.
Casey Morales, executive director of the McPherson Industrial Development Company (MIDC), and Christian Jensen, director of institutional giving for the SME Education Foundation, presented the PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) program to the McPherson USD 418 Board of Education as an informational item.
The presenters described PRIME as a four‑year, industry‑aligned curriculum designed to introduce students to manufacturing and engineering through hands‑on modules — from remote‑control “bots” and precision measurement to CAD/CAM and additive manufacturing — and to deliver industry‑recognized credentials. "PRIME is an acronym. It stands for partnership response in manufacturing education," said Dr. Shelley, PRIME program lead. Christian Jensen said SME would bring curriculum, equipment and program managers and that corporate partners would underwrite most project costs.
Why it matters: presenters said the program aims to build a local pipeline of skilled workers and to give students credentials that translate to industry employment or postsecondary study. Board members pressed for clarity on district costs and logistics; presenters repeatedly stated the district’s obligations would be limited to providing space, paying teacher salary/benefits and utilities, while the equipment and program costs would be covered by donors and SME’s funds. "We provide everything that is needed to support pathways," Dr. Shelley said, and SME staff said about 70% of the budget typically covers brand‑new equipment and supplies.
Supporting details: SME described a sustainability fund seed that began at $1,000,000 and was described as "up to $2,000,000" to support annual maintenance and modest sustainability grants for schools; program managers and warranty/service arrangements for OEM equipment were also described as part of the package. Presenters named local industry supporters (including VEGA and MIDC) and national partners such as the Caterpillar Foundation as examples of funding sources for other PRIME implementations.
Questions and next steps: Board members asked how the program would fit amid ongoing facilities work and whether the district would ever need to replace broken equipment. Presenters said first‑year equipment is portable — "all on wheels" — to allow a one‑year rollout while facilities plans are finalized, and that SME’s sustainability grants and vendor warranties address repairs and consumables. SME said a workforce needs assessment and local manufacturer survey would shape the final curriculum and that the Foundation would present research and a recommended program design to the district in the spring (April/May timeline discussed). Once funding is finalized, SME described selecting a school and presenting a standard MOU that makes the equipment a gift in kind and contains an indemnification clause.
What’s next: SME and MIDC will continue outreach, deliver the workforce‑needs research, and return to the board with a recommended site and MOU language for the district’s due‑diligence review. Presenters emphasized that this discussion was informational and no board action was requested at the meeting.