Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Career Technical Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District outlines expanded CTE plan, forwards consultant contract and Invenergy partnership to full Board
Summary
Fayette County Public Schools presented a Reimagined Career Ready Initiative to expand Career and Technical Education, asked the full Board to approve a consultant contract to support implementation, and forwarded an Invenergy partnership offering ~$95,000/year for three years for workforce training and JROTC support.
Principal and district presentations at the board’s Education, Sports and Career and Technical Education Committee meeting on May 21 focused on a districtwide plan to expand career and technical education and related partnerships.
Dr. Don McPherson and Eddie Keel described the Reimagined Career Ready Initiative, saying the district aims that, by 2030, every graduate will have a personalized career plan and earn postsecondary credit or an industry-recognized credential. The initiative emphasizes career-connected learning, industry certifications and Early Postsecondary Opportunities (EPSOs), with planned expansions of dual enrollment and partnerships with the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT). Transportation to TCAT campuses will be provided for students, Mr. Keel said.
To support implementation, Dr. McPherson told the committee the district approved an initial consultant contract (following executive session) that will continue through December to help maintain student pathway completion and support program expansion. Kevin Powers moved and Myles Wilson seconded a recommendation to forward the consultant contract to the full Board; the committee voted 3–0 to forward it.
Chairman Warner Speakman also presented a proposed partnership with Invenergy, a company developing a large-scale solar facility in Fayette County. Speakman said Invenergy offered to support workforce development and student career training, and proposed financial support of approximately $95,000 per year for three years tied to project approval and construction milestones and subject to legal review. The committee discussed permitting before the Board of Zoning Appeals, coordination with TVA and Chickasaw Electric, and the need to align contributions with program milestones; members voted 3–0 to forward the proposal to the full Board for discussion and final consideration.
The presentations and motions were forward-looking: no final contracts or partnership agreements were executed at the committee level. Dr. McPherson said transition plans will be put in place where programs are phased out so affected students can complete their chosen pathways. The consultant contract and the Invenergy proposal will next be considered by the full Board.
