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District pitches district‑run CDL program, says investment could pay for itself in five years
Summary
Superintendent and staff described plans to add a district‑run CDL program by purchasing a semi truck (after simulator investments) to reduce student costs for training and create a local vocational pathway; board asked questions about equipment lifespan and program logistics.
The board heard a proposal to develop an in‑district commercial driver’s license (CDL) training program that would leverage simulators already purchased and add a district truck and trailer to enable local instruction.
Superintendent Gallagher noted the district has invested in two semi‑truck simulators — cited on the record as approximately $100,000 and $85,000 — and argued buying a truck now would allow the district to offer its own CDL training rather than sending students to external vendors that charge about $5,500 per student. "Having our own program, we have the simulators. We need a truck and a trailer ... our CDL truck driving program, having it ourselves, would pay for itself in 5 years," Gallagher said. The administration proposed purchasing a truck this year and the trailer in the following budget year, and said the program could graduate four students with both a diploma and a CDL.
Board members asked practical questions about the expected lifespan and mileage of a truck and the district said it would leverage its shop and mechanic staff to perform maintenance. The proposal was framed as a strategic investment that would be brought forward through the budget process for board decision.
