Plano South | May 2023

EDUCATION

Plano ISD looking at expansion of career and technology programs

BY TERI WEBSTER

that learning really occurs.” One example would be the dis- trict’s professional communications program, which includes developing and expanding a student’s writing, reading, editing, speaking and listening skills. It also covers soft- ware applications and manipulating computer graphics. The committee recommended the expansion of the automotive; audio/

The Plano ISD career and technical education advisory committee pre- sented recommendations that would include expanding several programs as well as expanding classes for middle school students. Karen Buechman, PISD career and technical education director, pre- sented the committee’s recommen- dations to the school board on May

Culinary Arts is one of the programs Plano ISD may look to expand. (Courtesy Plano ISD)

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

The Plano ISD career and technical education advisory committee made recommendations on which programs to expand, add and remove.

2. The committee was tasked with exploring possible middle school pro- grams and making sure programs align with industry-based certi cations. One of the

visual technology and culinary arts programs. It also recommended the addition of stand- alone law and legal studies; construc- tion management; cybersecurity; emergency services; advanced manufac- turing and welding programs.

WHEN WE WALK AWAY FROM OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE, WE

Recommendations to add

Recommendations to expand

Automotive

Welding

Arts and audio visual

Law and legal studies

WANT KIDS TO HAVE THE TIME TO EXPLORE,” BUECHMAN, CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIRECTOR.

Construction management

Culinary arts

Cybersecurity

Recommendations to remove

recommendations was to give middle school students options to explore career-focused programs. “When we walk away from our middle school experience, we want kids to have the time to explore,” Buechman said. “They need time to gure out what they want to do. It should be career-focused, and it should be all-inclusive.” Part of that initiative would include oering principles—or level one— courses to middle schoolers. “It would allow students, by the time they get to senior high, they can go out and partner with our commu- nity businesses and industries, and have work-based learning opportuni- ties,” Buechman said. “That’s where

Emergency service

Agribusiness

Advanced manufacturing

Early learning

Several of the programs could be expanded due to feedback from students and industry partners, Buechman said. The automotive program would allow students to start working on cars earlier, as Buechman said industry partners were looking to hire students who started “turning a wrench” before 11th grade. The culinary program is currently oered at only one school in the district and could also expand due to strong interest from students and industry partners. The expanded audio/visual technology program would include

SOURCE PLANO ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT

a broader curriculum, while the cybersecurity program would prepare students for the workforce. The committee also recommended removing the agribusiness program, due to a lack of student interest. Additionally, the early learning pro- gram would be retired because that information is included in the teacher training program. The district is continuing to study new state requirements for indus- try-based certi cations. Looking forward, the committee is

hoping to enhance marketing in the 2023-24 school year to help families determine the best programs for their kids. “We want to make sure that we’re continuing to oer programs of study that hit the high-wage and high-de- mand industries,” Buechman said. Sta would also provide feedback on the expansion of programs at cam- puses or at the Career and Technical Education Center. “There is still a lot of work to be done,” Buechman said.

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM