RSU 26 board greenlights pursuit of UTC 9–10 satellite CTE program at OHS

The RSU 26 Board heard a detailed proposal and gave unanimous support to pursue a University Technical Center (UTC) satellite exploratory career-technical-education (CTE) program for ninth and tenth graders at Orono High School next year.

Superintendent (speaker 2) and high school staff presented the UTC model and a timeline for standing up the program. UTC’s satellite model is designed as an in‑school exploratory wheel: students would rotate through four programmatic topics that act as gateways to full UTC programming after 10th grade. The four areas the district has proposed to offer are carpentry, small engines, emergency medical responder (EMR) and culinary. Instructors would be employed by UTC and would provide equipment and materials; state funding through UTC and entitlement grants would pay instructor costs and an initial equipment outlay.

Meredith (speaker 10), who led the explanation of program design and logistics, said the exploratory classes give students exposure to foundational skills — "students receive instruction in 25% of the foundational skills in each of the programs that are offered" — and that class sizes would be intentionally small (8–12) to maximize hands-on learning. She described EMR as a ready-made curriculum that can yield a certificate recognized across industries and said carpentry and small engines provide skills that translate across multiple CTE pathways.

Board members asked operational questions about space, whether one instructor would cover multiple disciplines, and how culinary would be handled in a nonindustrial room. Superintendent (speaker 2) said UTC would employ and sustain the instructor and equipment in perpetuity and that the district’s role is to provide space and support student enrollment. The board expressed unanimous enthusiasm and support for the district to pursue the opportunity and directed staff to continue planning and to return with any required operational details.

The district noted the program can be funded through the UTC state subsidy model with an initial outlay for outfitting the program; ongoing supply costs would be budgeted year-to-year. The board did not authorize a contract at this meeting but approved moving forward with planning and said staff should seek any necessary MOUs or agreements with UTC.