Annual CTE report presented to Cheboygan school board
CHEBOYGAN — The Cheboygan Area Schools Board of Education heard an overview of the district's Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs during their meeting on Monday, May 22.
Teacher Ryan McClintic went through the highlights of each program, starting with a visit from Michigan state superintendent Michael Rice back in early 2023. Rice went on a student-led tour, with CTE students showing him around.
“They did a wonderful job, he was very impressed,” McClintic said.
He said Rice was visiting because a state bill to try to add funding for busing for schools in rural communities is in the works.
Last year, the district also applied for an SME PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) grant, and in the past year has provided the program with $253,419 worth of equipment that has found its home in the drafting classroom.
Some of the machinery includes a FANUC Cobot, or collaborative robot; a Stratasys 3D printer; a Snap-on precision measuring kit and more.
He said that a committee was formed and local businesses in the area — stretching from Gaylord north — were interviewed and asked what skills students need to learn. Then the necessary machinery to learn the skills were purchased for the CTE programs in the district.
In the automotive program, students have been preparing to take their Automotive Service Excellence tests.
In addition, 18 students earned their OSHA Ten certification in automotive training, and that certification is good for life, McClintic said.
Two students in business administration classes competed in DECA, qualifying for the state competition. In the culinary classes, students got to go on field trips to tour the kitchen at Mission Point, followed by a five-course meal prepared by the head chef. The seniors in the culinary program also took a field trip to the Les Cheneaux culinary school in Hessel. They also got to sample food from two former students.
In the teaching program, students introduced a reading buddy program to the elementary level, so students went down to the elementary schools and read to the younger students.
In the marketing program, there were 10 competitors in an early March DECA program. They all qualified in district, and two were medalists at the state level.
Through the district’s CTE programs, there are 25 work-experience students, with some in paid positions and others unpaid. One of the unpaid positions received summer employment for her work, McClintic said.
In welding, nine students have received their AWS D1.1 certifications. They also participated in the Ferris State welding competition and have had 36 of their students receive their OSHA Ten certifications.
Subscribe: Get unlimited access to all out local coverage
In woodworking, 23 projects competed in states at the MITES competition, with a ninth and 10th grade division taking Best in Show.
A student also took best in show with their hand-crafted rocking chair.
“I just want to thank everyone again, thank the community,” McClintic said.
Board president Amber Hansen took a moment to mention how fortunate the district is to have their CTE programs.
“I would like to take a second to acknowledge how incredibly fortunate we are to have such a wonderful CTE program,” Hansen said. “I realize that a lot of our surrounding districts are not as fortunate, so thanks to everyone that puts in all the hard work to keep those programs alive and available for our students.”
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at kgraham@petoskeynews.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Annual CTE report presented to Cheboygan school board
