Danville highlights culinary arts pathway at George Washington High, expands community partnerships

The Danville Public Schools board heard a presentation on the district's culinary arts Career and Technical Education pathway at George Washington High School that focused on student enrollment, community partnerships and workforce alignment.

"Our goal in CTE is always to increase college and career readiness for all students," said the program presenter during the update, describing a sequence of middle‑ and high‑school courses that culminate in hands‑on Culinary Arts I and II and industry‑recognized credentials. The presenter said 144 students are enrolled in middle‑school related courses and 50 students in the high‑school culinary pathway.

The program has built partnerships with local employers and institutions, the presenter said, naming Danville Community College (DCC), Averitt and Caesars, and noted that the City of Danville's culinary lab space has been used for instruction. The district will host evening ServSafe certification courses, delivered by DCC twice a week for four weeks beginning in February, to expand training and offer adult education opportunities.

Students and program staff described practical benefits: hands‑on safety and sanitation instruction, menu planning and event catering that the district used at recent community events. The presenter told the board the program recently received a $1,000 check to support participating students and said a grant submission to expand program activities is forthcoming.

Board members asked about internships and work‑based learning opportunities. The presenter said most culinary pathway work‑based learning occurs through district events and invited local chefs as guest instructors; the DCC partnership was described as a way to grow adult learners and expand credentials.

The presentation closed with rounds of applause and board thanks for program staff and student participants. The board did not take formal action on the item beyond receiving the update.