District greenlights consideration of donations for special‑education PAES lab, book vending machines and tech‑ed equipment

The board reviewed several donations intended to expand special‑education transition supports and career/technical education resources.

Caitlin Barton, director of special education, described the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES), an evidence‑based assessment and lab experience that helps students with post‑secondary transition goals by exposing them to vocational tasks and community‑based work simulations. Barton said the proposed donation would fund a PAES lab at the high school, is equipment based (no staffing required), and the donors estimated funds would sustain the program for about five years.

The Education Foundation also offered four book‑vending machines for elementary schools; administration said those machines have been piloted and principals favor them as an incentive program. The board was told Earl Elementary would be the final elementary to receive one.

Tech‑ed teacher Andrew Shoaf presented a separate donation of equipment for the design & build pathway, including a Scotchman DO70 ironworker (donated cost about $38,000 plus $4,000 of materials). He explained the machine processes structural steel used in student projects and highlighted that the model is dual‑operator and U.S. manufactured. Shoaf said the donation would support student exposure to industry‑standard tools; the board said it would consider the donation at the next legislative meeting and noted donated equipment becomes district property with ongoing maintenance responsibilities.

Administration noted donors may expect multi‑year commitments for program continuation and that acceptance carries future maintenance and replacement duties that the district would budget for if the board approves the donations.