SEQUIM – The Sequim School District is joining a growing trend in the US by committing to pursue a Career Technical Education, or (CTE) Program to provide students with the skills and training needed to succeed in future trade careers.

Monday night’s City Council meeting will feature a presentation by the School District to share the vision with Council and residents since it will be a community resource.

CTE prepares students for success by helping them develop the skills, technical knowledge, and real-world experience for high-skill, high-demand, highly successful careers. The US Dept. of Education says there are 30 million jobs in the US that do not require a bachelor’s degree that pay median earnings of $55,000 or more, and that was before the pandemic hit.

To accomplish a successful CTE program, the Sequim School District is seeking a new CTE facility. State Senator Lisa Wellman, chair of the Senate Committee on Early Learning and K-12 Education, believes she may be able to provide $15 million in State funding but is looking for local matching funds of $1 million.

A recently formed fundraising committee is working with local private companies that will benefit from being able to hire the trained graduates of this program, much like the Olympic Medical Center benefits from its financial support of the nursing program at Peninsula College.

It’s a strategic decision for Sequim School District since not all high school graduates are interested in a college degree but show an aptitude for hands-on technical training. A CTE program would be a win/win for these students and our area’s need for those skills.

Those industries include carpenters, electricians, plumbers, welders and mechanics, to name a few.