Board reviews CTE enrollment, instructor shortages and capital project pipeline

Mister Atkins briefed the board on Career and Technical Education offerings at the district’s three high schools, outlining six program areas (agricultural education; business/finance/marketing; computer science/IT; family and consumer sciences; health science; and trade/industrial). He noted the slide figures represent course enrollments (sections) rather than unique students and agreed to provide a breakdown showing how many individual students are served in each pathway.

Board members raised concerns about apparent discrepancies between course‑enrollment counts and unique student participation. Several trustees asked staff to produce rosters or a hand count so the board can evaluate per‑student cost and program reach (for example, whether some programs show many section enrollments but actually serve only a handful of distinct students). Members also questioned the prevalence of virtual delivery for some small courses and asked for clearer labeling of NC Virtual Public School sections.

Attendees discussed challenges hiring licensed instructors for trade courses — notably automotive — and noted Forsyth Tech has agreed to explore providing a part‑time instructor or partnership delivery. Board members also encouraged outreach to local employers (Habitat and other construction partners were cited) and asked CTE leadership to survey student interest as schools consider reallocating or adding offerings in the northern part of the district.

Facilities director Mister Roberts then updated projects: Germanton dehumidification and Mount Olive awning work will start when school is out; the security‑fencing design requires careful egress/ramp considerations between buildings at North and South; Poplar Springs parking will be expanded using leftover funds; Southeastern natural gas line work and burner replacements are in progress; and West Oaks tennis court relocation will proceed with a change order.

Board members asked for clearer cost breakdowns on capital items, additional justification for contested elements (one trustee called out plastic turf at West Stokes), and to keep safety partners involved in fencing design. Staff committed to follow up with the requested student‑count data, a breakdown of first‑year costs for proposed pre‑K expansion, and detailed per‑project capital accounting.