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District highlights Center for Innovation visits and funding plan, cites Triumph and CAPE revenue
Summary
District workforce‑education leaders reported that Santa Rosa’s Center for Innovation hosted hundreds of students since its March ribbon‑cutting, outlined summer programming, and explained funding from a Triumph reimbursement model, a $500,000 state allocation for equipment, CAPE per‑certification funding and an identified $3.1M match pool.
District workforce‑education staff updated the board May 7 on activities at the Santa Rosa Center for Innovation and explained how the center is funded and staffed. The district said the center has hosted multiple middle‑ and elementary‑school visits, will run summer camps, and provides students exposure to career‑technical programs including welding, HVAC, culinary, CSIT and 3D printing.
Jennifer Hines, director for workforce education (introduced by the board), said the center is supported by CAPE funding for student certifications and by Triumph grant reimbursements. "Triumph is a reimbursement," Hines said, explaining that the district must spend a minimum amount before requesting reimbursement; she told the board the district has earned almost 7,000 certifications to date and identified about $3,100,000 in match dollars (not yet spent). Hines also said the district received a $500,000 state allocation last year that funded building construction equipment and laboratory purchases for the center.
Why it matters: The Innovation Center supports career and technical education across the district and creates a pipeline from K‑12 to postsecondary credentials. Hines noted that CAPE funding assigns a dollar value to certifications (ranging in the transcript from about $113 to $900 per certification depending on rigor) and that funds earned must be spent back into the originating program.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how the reimbursements and matches work; Hines explained that the district uses CAPE and Perkins/workforce dollars for equipment, curriculum and certification purchases and that Triumph reimbursements are requested when district spending meets the grant's minimum threshold. The board thanked staff for the update and for work to expand hands‑on career opportunities for students.
