Lockwood moves to expand CTE: anatomy table approved, CNA pathway and grant funding discussed

The Lockwood K-12 board approved purchase of an interactive anatomy and science table at its Dec. 4 meeting and discussed multiple concurrent steps to expand career and technical education (CTE). Administrators said the table will support anatomy/physiology classes, EMT and CNA coursework, and adult-education offerings.

District staff said the purchase will be funded from Advanced Opportunity grant funds, receipts from Medicaid/Medicare billing for student services, and adult-education funds, and stressed it will not draw from the district’s general fund. "None of the funding that's being used is coming out of anything that will take away from athletics, from curriculum... It's funding that we have there from different sources," a district staff member said during the presentation.

Staff also described plans to begin a healthcare career pathway (CNA classes) in the 2025–26 school year, citing a local med-tech who is a licensed EMT with 5,000 hours of experience and will be eligible to teach. The district reported it received $809,000 this year through the Montana Advanced Opportunity program and intends to use Perkins and OPI processes to seek sustained funding for the pathway.

Why it matters: administrators said the anatomy table and pathway work will expand local workforce pipelines into healthcare and offer dual-credit and certificate opportunities for students and adult learners. The board approved the table purchase and directed staff to proceed with procurement and program planning; staff will return with rollout plans and course details.

Attribution and next steps: trustees approved the purchase by voice vote; staff will finalize purchase orders, plan adult-ed offerings that can use the table, and submit required Perkins/OPI grant paperwork to secure ongoing funding.