New CTE Program Funded

SD schools selected to receive state grant

STURGIS, S.D. - “Not all students are destined to begin and finish [a degree at] a 4-year university; however, all students should be given the opportunity to leave high school with a significant exposure to many different learning experiences,” SBHS Principal Jeff Simmons said.

Funding for education can often be seen at the crux of new programs. Without money, programs are cut. Thanks to a recently submitted grant to start a new Career & Technical Education (CTE) program, next fall interested students can sign up for machining.

Out of the twelve schools’ applications selected for over $8 million, Meade School District received $89,967 from the Future Fund, the governor’s economic development fund established to help businesses and education start up and meet business needs.

In order to meet the new program’s costs, local Perkins funding contributed approximately $18,000 in-kind contributions with the understanding businesses will provide guest speakers, on-site field trips and more.

“We are combining technology with real-world applicable situations,” instructor Chad Hedderman said. “The students will work to design the part as well as plan and perform the tool-paths to cut out an object to exact specifications, allowing them a head start in a demanding field and a possible job opportunity in their hometown.”

CTE instructor and grant author Coleen Keffeler said, “There are several businesses in the Sturgis Industrial Park utilizing CNC machines. They have positions open and difficulty finding people with the skills needed.”

Simmons expressed a hope individuals graduating from SBHS could find opportunities within the community. “The Industrial Park in Sturgis is amazing and the businesses there have the potential for providing local jobs to our graduates. The idea,” for the grant, he said, “was to stay true to High Schools That Work (HSTW) and project-based learning, believing that students are more likely to be successful if the courses they are taking are relevant.”

Under the project title, “Meade Economic & CTE Development Iniative,” participating secondary schools, post secondary entities and industry partners include Western Dakota Technical Institute, Sturgis Economic Development Corporation, Legend Air Suspensions, Bar-Sto Precision Machine, Horizon Machine, Dakota Arms/Remington, Black Hills Grid, Black Hills Manufacturing Service, Inc.

Keffeler said concurrent and dual enrollment is the ultimate goal with Western Dakota Technical Institute as a machining program is begun as part of the manufacturing cluster.

The need for machinists in the area was made apparent during a Reverse Career Day last spring.

“Every business we toured,” Hedderman said, “had a CNC operator, from building gun parts, air suspensions, military silencers, and every day parts.”

“Based on my observations last year when I took a group of students on the Reverse Career Day, the micro-manufacturing businesses in our community have a need for a skilled workforce. There are five businesses that we will tour that use CNC machines to create parts and components,” Simmons said. “In visiting with the business owners, there is, in fact, a need for skilled machinists.”

Keffeler said she sees the school and business partners utilizing the program as a partnership.

“The school will work with the businesses to develop curriculum and projects that will teach students skills necessary to be successful in a manufacturing business,” she said. “The businesses will provide opportunities through field trips and youth internships for students to see first-hand the skills and knowledge necessary to be successfully employed in the field.”

“The businesses have agreed to partner with the school, so we can send interns to the participating businesses,” Simmons said. “The businesses will rotate the interns through their particular sites. The interns will have the opportunity to observe how different manufacturers do business. It is the goal of us at SBHS to provide students with real-world experiences and it is businesses’ goal to train potential skilled employees they can potentially hire.”

Because of the continual shift and change of technologies, it has become apparent students are often trained for jobs that do not exist yet, a common insight that began with “Shift Happens,” an online YouTube video. There is consideration, therefore, how educational programs may help prepare students for their futures.

“In today’s world, providing as many different learning experiences as possible is an advantage,” Simmons said. “By providing experiences, we increase the students’ propensity to learn. In other words we provide opportunities for students to learn how to learn, an important skill considering that the future is more uncertain now than it ever has been and the students who have more experiences in adapting and overcoming will have a greater chance to excel.”

“The critical thinking, problem-solving and technology skills students will learn is applicable to all jobs, no matter what field a student is interested in,” Keffeler said. “SD business climate and the work of the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation are drawing more businesses to SD. To be employable students need a positive attitude, the ability to problem-solve and work as a team.”

“Students involved in internships,” Simmons said, “and work-related school experiences get a head start. I think it is more important our students have the skill to ‘Do’ something opposed to ‘Know’ something.”

Rep. Gary Cammack, Don Kirkegaard, Coleen Keffeler, Rep. Dean Wink take a moment to appreciate funds awarded to Meade School District through the Governor’s Grants for Career & Technical Education. Press Release photo.