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Director Paulette Bono outlines COT enrollment, apprenticeships and community projects
Summary
At the March 25 Biddeford School Committee meeting, Director Paulette Bono described the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology’s programs, partnerships and outcomes, citing roughly 500 students, dual-enrollment options, a Pratt & Whitney pre-apprenticeship and high placement/graduation rates.
Director Paulette Bono told the Biddeford School Committee on March 25 that the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology prepares students for both the workforce and postsecondary education and that the center must also market itself because students elect to attend.
“Our mission is pretty, simple in that we prepare and ensure that students have the academic, career and technical skills that will prepare them either for workforce or entering into post secondary education,” Bono said, outlining COT’s curriculum, dual-enrollment arrangements and community partnerships.
Bono said the center’s average enrollment over the past three years is about 500 students. She cited a parent needs assessment with 65 responses showing broad support for COT programs; the survey found 71% of responding parents said the center helps students make informed career decisions. She told the committee that roughly 83% of students placed in internships or extended learning opportunities either remain in the field for full-time employment or go on to two- or four-year college programs in that field.
Bono highlighted formal partnerships and program-level wins. She said COT established a pre-apprenticeship with Pratt & Whitney that reduces six months from the company’s apprenticeship sequence for students who complete the two-year machining program. She also noted COT students won medals at the statewide SkillsUSA competition and that many projects — from building a mobile stage for Old Orchard Beach nonprofit 365 to plumbing and electrical work at city facilities — are completed for partner organizations.
Committee members pressed on capacity and program expansion. Board members and Bono discussed persistent space constraints on the COT campus that make new on-site programs difficult; cosmetology, for example, would require licensing, dedicated stalls and additional space. Bono said satellite programs or partnerships with local businesses or organizations would be options if COT cannot accommodate a new program on its campus.
On adult and evening programming, Bono said equipment cost and licensing are limiting factors. “It’s not that we don’t want to be available to the community, but we do need to be cautious,” she said, noting large machines and licensing requirements limit community use without formal agreements.
The presentation closed with committee appreciation for COT’s local projects and student outcomes and a pledge to follow up on requested enrollment breakdowns by sending districts and other metrics to the committee.
What’s next: Bono committed to provide the committee with a breakdown of how many students from each sending district take COT courses and said the program will continue to explore partnership options to expand offerings within the constraints of available space and licensing requirements.
