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A Tech Academy overview spotlights programs, partners and about 1,400 annual students
Summary
A presenter described A Tech Academy on Central High School's campus as serving roughly 1,400 students each year, listing programs from welding to EMT training and naming local partners including the Chamber of Commerce and Aberdeen Homebuilders. The presenter said the academy seeks more community partners as programs grow.
A presenter at the meeting described A Tech Academy, the career and technical education center located on Central High School's campus, as serving about 1,400 students annually and offering a range of hands-on programs designed to prepare students for college and careers.
The presenter said the academy began as a consortium of local schools in 1975 and that, after receiving a grant, the current facility was constructed in 2015 and placed on Central High School's campus. "We have about 1,400 students that come through our doors on a yearly basis," the presenter said.
The presenter listed programs offered at the academy, noting that "A Tech offers all kinds of really cool classes." Among the offerings named were media production; horticulture with a large greenhouse; introductory training for future educators; vehicle systems and maintenance; welding and machine tool; residential construction; robotics; and EMT and EMR coursework. The presenter emphasized that some of these courses are not widely available elsewhere in the district.
On partnerships and community engagement, the presenter said classes are expanding as students see clearer pathways to employment and further education. The presenter named several community partners, including Bill Dakota (described as a regional partner), the local Chamber of Commerce (which participates in an "egg day"), a manufacturing day event, Game Fish and Parks, and Aberdeen Homebuilders (transcript spelled this "Aberdine Homebuilders," normalized here to Aberdeen Homebuilders). "We are always looking for partners in the community," the presenter said, urging local businesses and organizations to engage with students.
The presenter also relayed student feedback: learners told staff that A Tech classes make them think about their next steps for college and career "in a concrete way," and that the academy provides practical skills to help take those steps.
No formal votes or policy decisions were recorded in the presentation. The presenter closed by reiterating that programs are growing and by inviting additional community partnerships to support hands-on learning and workforce preparation.
