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Bismarck board hears plan to expand CTE into middle grades as part of K–12 ‘extend the runway’ strategy
Summary
At the Feb. 24 board meeting, district CTE leaders outlined a K–12 plan to expand career and technical education into middle school through field‑trip-style, hands‑on explorations at hub sites and phased pilots; staff said a light pilot could begin at Hughes next year but no board action was taken tonight.
At the Feb. 24 meeting of the Bismarck Public School Board, district CTE staff outlined a multi‑year plan to expand career and technical education (CTE) into middle grades so students get earlier, hands‑on exposure to career pathways.
Pat Phillips, the district CTE director, told the board the proposal is intended to "extend the runway" from elementary awareness to middle‑school exploration and then to high‑school occupational intent, and that the approach is not about locking students into careers but giving them broader exposure. "Increasing relevant, authentic and career‑focused experiences increases student engagement," Phillips said, arguing that engagement supports graduation and local workforce readiness.
A district presenter described a field‑trip model in which cohorts from middle schools would travel by bus to hub sites such as Hughes for half‑ or full‑day exploratory sessions. Examples cited ranged from a sixth‑grade CPR lesson and beginner programming to eighth‑grade projects such as CAD design, 3‑D printing, drone programming and simulated suturing to inform students’ later high‑school course choices and capstone work.
Board members pressed staff on logistics, equity and timing. Mr. Lee praised the outcomes the district attributes to CTE and quoted graduation numbers during discussion, and Miss Peterson questioned how multiple middle schools would coordinate transportation and instruction when students return to home schools. Staff said the district is planning a phased rollout: a "light version" of the middle‑school runway could operate at Hughes next year and a fuller build‑out would take several years and require community partners and additional funding.
District staff highlighted existing and planned facilities in the CTE network — the Career Academy at BSC, Hughes and the Silver Ranch site — and noted prior public–private work, referencing a $1,100,000 grant effort and a donation from Sanford connected to earlier CTE development. The district also described collaboration with the Central Region Area Career and Technical Center to expand access for regional and rural students.
On staffing, the CTE director said middle‑school implementation can be more flexible because middle‑level teachers are not always required to hold specialized CTE licensure, and staff emphasized community experts and partnerships as potential sources of expertise. Staff also described ways hub experiences would link back to home‑school instruction — for example, data from a new hydroponics lab would feed into math and science lessons at students’ schools.
No formal board action was requested or taken on the CTE plan at the meeting. Presenters said they will continue planning and community outreach and expect phased pilot activity to appear next year if funding and partnerships fall into place.
