The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District received a $2 million Career Technical Education Incentive Grant to help students get ready for careers and college.
The first allocation, a little more than
$1.1 million, of the three-year grant is expected to be received soon from the California Department of Education. The state money is part of $400 million that is earmarked for career-oriented learning.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction John Davis said the money will primarily be used to expand Pathway Programs across the spectrum of district Career Technical Education (CTE) courses.
“It will help us get closer to full implementation of career pathways and improve future opportunities for our students,” Davis said in a statement.
District CTE courses at Santa Maria, Righetti, Pioneer Valley, and Delta high schools will all be connected to a variety of industries
SMJUHSD applied for the grant in December and had to demonstrate an existing monetary commitment to CTE for the funding. The district showed more than a $7 million commitment.
Some of the money will be used at the district’s new Agricultural Education and Career Technical Education centers to engage student readiness.
The centers will have a capacity of 400 to 500 students.
The short-term development plan involves a centralized farm for agricultural students including county fair competitions, Future Farmers of America, and other projects. The student and staff activities will involve crop farming, livestock rearing, and horticulture. Fencing, pens, shelters, a pole barn, storage sheds, portable restrooms, utilities (electricity) and landscaping are also part of the plan.
The long-term goals involve construction of structures or facilities to house the Career Technical Education Center and Capstone Career Pathway courses. Specialized classrooms, support rooms, labs, offices, meeting areas, storage, paved roadways and parking, and utilities will be considered too.
This article appears in Feb 11-18, 2016.
