Saint Croix CTE staff and FBLA students report regional wins and describe apprenticeship, certification and business programs

Tracy Crowley, head business and marketing teacher and youth apprenticeship coordinator, told the board the district’s CTE program has three core components: CTSO (FBLA), work-based learning (including youth apprenticeship) and classroom certifications. Crowley said the middle school speech team had 39 members and that the district hosted an SCC invitational tournament with six schools and nearly 120 students.

Taylor Browning, president of the Saint Croix Central FBLA chapter, and Kat Gooding, FBLA community service chair, summarized the Feb. 7 regional leadership conference the chapter hosted (reported in the meeting packet as 544 students from 37 high schools across nine counties). Browning said the chapter earned ‘‘first place regional outstanding chapter’’ and that 21 members will advance to state in April.

Crowley provided program metrics: last year 51 students completed the youth apprenticeship; current enrollment was reported at 36 students through March 1 (down from prior year), and the program partners with roughly 35 business partners across about nine career pathways. She said the Saint Croix Valley consortium grant returns $500 per enrolled youth-apprenticeship student and that the Act 59 CTE grant has returned about $600 per completing senior.

Crowley described applied learning in a district apparel business (Panther Prints), a middle-school store run by students, Microsoft Office certification (9 students certified last year; 8 to date this year with two at expert level), an ASK Ethics exam (17 passed last year, 12 so far this year) and an April 29 financial literacy 'cash course' for juniors and seniors.

Board members asked about internship records and job offers; Crowley cited examples of students who moved into trades and emphasized ongoing partnerships with local employers. Crowley noted recruitment and enrollment challenges and said she is contacting families to boost numbers.

Why it matters: The CTE programs provide workplace skills, certifications and potential postsecondary credit for students and generate small revenue to support programming. The board received both celebration of student success and specific program metrics that could inform budgeting and program support decisions.