BY CONNOR PITTMAN
The impact
What’s next?
Industry based certifications awarded through PISD’s CTE program
The new building is expected to open ahead of the 2026-27 school year. There will be the option to further expand the new building, said Konrad Judd, Huckabee Architects Chief Design Officer. Unlike current programs that are spread across the district, the new center will offer a centralized location that will reduce the commute for students, Buechman said. “Having a centralized location allows us to serve students from across the district, whether it’s the east side, central or west side [of Plano],” Buechman said.
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Buechman said students will have the oppor- tunity to gain experiences through work-based learning. “Work-based learning just takes learning to the next level by the real world experiences that the students can have,” Buechman added. Steven Pilat, the culinary instructor at Plano East Senior High School, said the new facility will allow students wanting to focus on pastries in the culinary program to have a dedicated space and teach, which is not the case in the current setup. “I’m not big and proficient in pastries, but we do them,” Pilat said. “Having a pastry instructor that just is designated for that is going to help out the [students]. The new space will also have separate spaces for students to sell items at the in-house restaurant, which has a seating capacity of 200, an in-house event center or the district store planned within the new facility. “They can all work together to serve some of our
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SOURCE: PLANO ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
partners or the community with needs in a variety of areas,” Buechman said. The district’s career and technical education programs are part of a larger trend in preparing students for the future by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills, Williams added. “This comprehensive approach aligns perfectly with our district’s goal of preparing students not just for college or careers, but for fulfilling success- ful lives,” Williams said.
W. PARK BLVD.
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YOU’RE INVITED TO | | OCT. 19 PIONEER PREVIEW DAY
• Tour Campus • Housing Presentation • Academic & Student Services Fair
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PLANO NORTH EDITION
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