08-02-2025
Expansion to enhance Career and Technical Education programs at Woonsocket School District
Feb. 7—WOONSOCKET, S.D. — Until just a few weeks ago, learning quarters for the Career and Technical Education programs at the Woonsocket School District were a little tight. Dozens of students crowded their way into the space roughly equivalent to that of a three-stall garage, where they worked on skills like welding and other hands-on lessons.
Thanks to a recent upgrade, those students now have plenty of elbow room.
The district recently completed work on a new building for its CTE programs, and students and staff are in the process of moving in.
"This is a great addition to our school and our community," Rod Weber, superintendent for the Woonsocket School District, told the Mitchell Republic. "I'm very happy with how things turned out, and we're excited for the kids to be able to move in."
The district for some time was looking at ways to bring more space to its CTE programs. Most students in the district take at least a year of CTE programming in one form or another, and the district has approximately 92 students involved in such programs, and roughly 25 students may be using the space at any one time.
The previous CTE work area was too small to accommodate the number of students who used it on a regular basis, and an expansion was needed both for comfort and safety, Weber said.
"(The old space) was basically the space of a three-car garage, and with class sizes of 25 kids, it was just more or less an unsafe environment. We've been trying to work on something for quite a few years now," Weber said.
Like any capital outlay project, the expansion went through an extensive planning stage. Weber said the district saved funds over the years to the tune of $1.5 million, and the district took out another $1.5 million in capital outlay certificates, which essentially serves as a loan for the project. Weber said the district will pay that back over 10 years, but it's hoped it can be paid off in half that time.
The district also received a CTE Workforce Education Grant in the amount of $225,000 from the state of South Dakota. Such grants provide school districts and private, nonprofit entities that provide specialized training in South Dakota the opportunity to make transformative change in career and technical education programs, according to the South Dakota Department of Education.
The work was bid out at $2,769,450 and the total project cost ended up at $2,833,583.71. Construction on the building was done by C. Eagle Construction, of Woonsocket. In the end, the structure, which boasts about 8,550 square feet, greatly expands the workspace needed for CTE classes. Work on the structure commenced last spring and wrapped up just a couple of weeks into January of 2025.
Now students have access to two classrooms, a welding shop with 11 welding stations, a mechanic shop that includes a car lift as well as a woodworking shop. The woodworking shop will allow students to build larger projects, such as garage-style storage sheds.
Also included in the new space is a locker room for students to change from work clothes into more casual wear for the rest of the school day.
"We've never had a chance to have a shop like this before, so yeah, we're really excited about having an opportunity to use this," Weber said.
The new CTE building also frees up the space that was previously being used for those programs for storage, another kind of space that is always at a premium, Weber said.
Career and Technical Education classes continue to be in demand in South Dakota. According to the Governor's Office of Economic Development, there are approximately 30,000 CTE students in grades 7 through 12 in South Dakota. The skills those students learn in those classes are in high demand among employers in the state.
"CTE is essential for all students, as every student deserves career preparation, workforce development, and pathways to success," Amy Miller, the assistant director of career and technical education at the South Dakota Department of Education, said in a post on the South Dakota Department of Education website. "Today's CTE programs apply whether a student wants to begin employment immediately after high school, start an apprenticeship, go to a technical college, go to a four-year college or seek a doctoral degree. CTE is a vital piece of the personal learning plan for all students."
A strong CTE program is good for young people in a community, but it also is a major benefit to the business community of the region. CTE programs vary from school to school because they reflect the opportunities available in the communities they serve. An area that attracts a lot of tourists will offer CTE classes in hospitality, while a farming community will have CTE programs that feature robust agricultural programs.
"CTE programs are aligned with the needs of local industries and employers, helping to bridge the gap between education and the skills that will be needed in modern industry," Miller said.
Weber said the new facilities will help Woonsocket students meet the needs of South Dakota's workforce.
"It's been an awesome addition to our school and community. The CTE workforce, especially in small communities, is important because I believe those are the jobs that will be here, and we want to keep our students in the area," Weber said.
The school is planning an open house for the public to see the new facilities. That open house is scheduled for March 19 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include a meal prepared by the school's FFA chapter.
