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Perrydale board approves $17,752 CNC table for CTE program
Summary
The Perrydale SD 21 board approved the purchase of an ARC Pro Ultra 4x4 CNC table for $17,752 to support its career and technical education courses, with trustees citing student career pathways, vendor support and available SIA grant funds.
The Perrydale School District 21 board approved the purchase of an ARC Pro Ultra 4x4 CNC table for $17,752 after a presentation about the district's aging equipment and the educational and fundraising uses of a modern machine.
Kirk Bradshaw, the CTE instructor who presented vendor quotes and classroom examples, described a recent Knife River field trip and the value a modern CNC machine would add to hands-on instruction. "If they get hired on at Knife River, they will be paid $25 an hour for the first month to go through training," he said, arguing that a current, user-friendly CNC would allow students to learn industry-relevant skills and produce sellable projects to support the program.
Bradshaw walked the board through multiple quotes and machine options, recommending a simpler, educationally versatile system that staff and local industry endorsed. He said delivery could be two to three weeks and emphasized that the district already has some infrastructure in the shop (vent hood, 220 outlet) and that consumables could be covered by existing SIA/CTE funds. "This is an awesome fundraiser," he said, describing how student-made products could help sustain the program.
Board members asked procurement and warranty questions. One trustee asked whether warranties and launch/training items were included; Bradshaw said he would confirm warranty details with the vendor. District staff confirmed the intended funding source for the purchase was SIA grant dollars that remain available through June 30.
Trustee S2 moved to approve the ARC Pro Ultra 4x4 for $17,752; the motion was seconded and, after a call for the question, the board registered no opposition and moved on to the next item.
The decision follows the board's broader push to expand CTE offerings and align classroom resources with student workforce opportunities. The administration said staff will follow up with the vendor on warranty and installation details and keep the board informed about final scheduling and any parts decisions for the district's older machine.
