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ACE Academy reports growth to 235 students; industry partners offer to expand program and fund equipment
Summary
At a June 15 workshop the ACE Academy and Associated General Contractors told the Fond du Lac board the program has grown from 35 students to roughly 235 and industry partners asked the district to consider folding architectural, metal and woods offerings under ACE with contractor-supported equipment and a staffing plan; board requested a concise one-page proposal.
Industry partners and ACE Academy staff presented a detailed workshop to the Fond du Lac School District board on June 15, outlining the career-and-technical program’s expansion, the scale of industry support, and a request for structured partnership growth.
Jeff Roach of the Associated General Contractors and ACE lead instructor Vern Whitmer summarized ACE’s history and outcomes: the program began as a small pilot in 2013–2015 and now serves roughly 235 students with an expanded facility and a broad set of industry partners donating equipment, instruction time, tools and materials. Presenters described semester-based trade modules and week-long focused sessions (carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry, landscaping and others) and highlighted large in-kind contributions — for example, donated furnaces for HVAC training and tens of thousands of dollars in tools from contractors and vendors.
Industry representatives asked the board to consider a programmatic expansion that would bring architecture, metals and woodworking curricula under the ACE umbrella. Contractors said they would provide equipment, mentorship, and curricular support and proposed recruiting and mentoring one middle‑school teacher to run the expanded offering. Industry speakers volunteered to produce a concise one-page plan that the board requested, including staffing needs, costs and proposed timelines.
Several contractors and ACE supporters stressed youth apprenticeship outcomes and local-hire pathways. ACE graduate Noah Clippert addressed the board: "ACE Academy led me to where I am today," he said, describing his apprenticeship with Sha Electric and noting that reduced funding can harm hands-on opportunities for future students.
Board members thanked presenters, asked for a short written proposal and raised questions about staffing and the district’s recent budget and staffing reductions. Trustees emphasized they would evaluate expansion requests in the context of the district’s fiscal constraints and asked industry partners to return with specific cost and staffing details.
Speakers quoted in this article are taken directly from the workshop transcript and are attributed to named participants who spoke at the board meeting.
