Urbana SD 116 spotlights CTE growth, new pathways and federal GEAR UP funding

Urbana School District 116 trustees heard an extended update on Career and Technical Education (CTE) and college-and-career initiatives during a study session, where administrators and teachers said the district has expanded CTE offerings, secured grants and partnerships, and will use a new federal GEAR UP grant to bolster middle‑school career supports.

"As you can see on this slide, we've had a wonderful growth in the last three years of our CTE department," said Mr. Guzman, who introduced the high‑school team and the department's recent additions. Presenters described growth across business, family and consumer sciences, automotive, industrial technology and engineering, and a recent addition of computer science.

Nathan Westerman, an engineering and industrial-technology teacher at Urbana High School, described hands‑on courses — from introductory shop and electrical work to welding and a Project Lead The Way capstone — that he said prepare students for postsecondary training or jobs. He credited industry donations, saying he had secured more than $15,000 in tools from Milwaukee Tools and a $10,000 grant via Project Lead The Way for training and equipment.

Leigh Ann Stuckenmaier, the high school’s college-and-career-readiness coordinator, said the district opened a dedicated college-and-career center this year and is offering a sequence of events and supports, including FAFSA workshops and college visits. She highlighted new pathways that can yield endorsements on student transcripts: "We have 10 students that are working toward the endorsement," she said, referring to the newly created education pathway the district submitted for state approval.

Presenters also detailed work‑based learning and internship structures: cooperative education and executive internships, with a state requirement of 60 hours for work‑based learning and a 70‑hour expectation for the district's executive internships. One teacher explained that 70 hours typically equals one credit, and 140 hours equals two credits for cooperative education placements.

Funding for CTE came in several forms, presenters said: federal Perkins funds, building-level CTE allocations, local foundation grants and private donations. District staff described recent support from CU Schools Foundation, a John Deere grant and a Caterpillar Foundation grant used for training and a desktop CNC mill.

Officials flagged space and staffing constraints as the primary barriers to expansion. "Our biggest barrier is just physical space," a CTE presenter said, noting that multiple teachers currently share lab spaces and that culinary and welding facilities limit enrollment in higher‑level classes.

District leaders also announced a newly awarded, seven-year federal GEAR UP grant intended to expand career and college programming to middle-school grades and to finance a grant-funded coordinator and middle-school career center. Superintendent and staff described the award as fully funded for seven years and said details are still being finalized.

Board members and presenters discussed next steps including facilities planning tied to the board's upcoming strategic plan, continuing to pursue partnerships with local trades and Parkland College for dual credit, and exploring additional lab space to increase enrollment and staffing capacity.

The presentation concluded with board praise for the programs and a call to include CTE needs in district facilities planning moving forward.