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Taunton expands CTE offerings; district seeks $1.5 million grant for Construction Craft Labor facility
Summary
Co‑directors reported growth from one Chapter 74 program in 2011–12 to nine programs now serving about 950 students; the district applied for a $1.5 million grant to build a heated, plumbed facility to support the Construction Craft Labor program.
Taunton High School’s Career and Technical Education co‑directors Darla Hartung and Mike Raposa told the School Committee on Nov. 19 that the district’s CTE offerings have expanded substantially.
Raposa said the district had one Chapter 74 program (Marketing) serving 30–40 students in 2011–12 and now offers nine Chapter 74 programs serving roughly 950 students—about half of the high‑school population. He described the programs as prioritizing hands‑on internships and real‑world experience over traditional testing. Raposa noted oversubscription in some programs and said the system currently places 95% of students in their first choice, with the remainder receiving their second or third choices; he acknowledged a lottery could be used for a few programs if needed.
Raposa and Hartung highlighted the Early Childhood Education program piloting the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential (120 hours of coursework and 480 hours of field experience) and noted a priority safety project: a new, safer entrance for student drop‑off and pickup. Raposa said the district has applied for a $1.5 million grant to purchase a large metal building outfitted with heat, plumbing, and restrooms to support the Construction Craft Labor (CCL) program and potentially serve other athletic field needs.
The committee approved forming a subcommittee to work with the CTE team to continue planning and support the program’s expansion.
