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RSU 25’s vocational cybersecurity class faces staffing threat as instructor retires
Summary
HCTC reported strong SkillsUSA results but said its cybersecurity instructor is retiring and low enrollment plus high software costs make hiring difficult; about six second-year students need the course to graduate, and staff will pursue solutions to preserve students' credits.
The district’s career-and-technical center reported strong competition results at SkillsUSA but raised an immediate staffing concern for its cybersecurity offering at the March RSU 25 School Board meeting.
HCTC representatives said the cybersecurity class has low enrollment, the current instructor is retiring, and local hiring is challenging because private-sector pay for cybersecurity professionals is higher than what the center can offer. Staff also noted the specialized software used in the course is expensive.
That combination led staff to raise the possibility of discontinuing the course, but they stressed the impact on students already in the program. Officials said about six second-year students rely on the cybersecurity credits to complete graduation requirements; staff said they are exploring options to ensure those students can earn needed credits if the course cannot continue in its current form.
The board also celebrated HCTC competition achievements: officials reported multiple gold and bronze medals across programs, and administrators said enrollment in programs such as welding remains strong.
Board members asked staff to return with proposals for how to serve affected students, including alternative credit paths or staffing solutions; no formal decision to discontinue the course was made at the meeting.
