Discussions and planning continue to make headway for a proposed regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center in Macomb, but the larger question is: Where would the new center, should it come to fruition, be located?
Macomb Superintendent Mark Twomey shared at Monday’s Macomb Community Unit School District’s Board of Education meeting that discussions continue on the proposed regional CTE Center with the group, which is composed of representatives from the Macomb School District, Spoon River College, MAEDCO, the City of Macomb and Bushnell and West Prairie school districts. The discussion currently at hand among member of the planning group is the location of the proposed center: on Macomb school district property or at Spoon River’s Macomb campus.
“When you apply for this through the state, you have two options: apply as a school system, which means only your students can attend, or you apply as a regional technical education center so that others in the community can benefit. We are all in favor of option number two for lots of reasons and what it could do for our region,” Twomey pointed out. “For me, the whole idea of the regional center is location, location, location, and I do want this on our campus because it’s my job as the superintendent to do what’s best for our students.
“We’re having another meeting to further discuss the best option. I have some ideas that I’m not ready to discuss yet, but that might bring us to consensus. The biggest stumbling block right now is what I want versus what the larger group wants, but we are all on the same page that we are in favor of a regional partnership,” he added.
He requested the Board’s finance and curriculum committees meet in the near future to talk about the financial side of the proposed CTE if it’s placed on district property or at SRC, and what curriculum would need to be in place at MHS to offer through the district.
The larger CTE group is also reviewing other centers throughout the state, including Galesburg, Litchfeld and Mattoon for ideas, information and best practices.
Transportation continues to remain one of the main reasons the superintendent wants to see the building on Macomb’s campus as busing students, even across town, cuts in their learning time. He shared with media following the meeting that Macomb High’s FFA is a prime example. When students were being bused to West Prairie for FFA, they had 13 members, but when a group was established at MHS, membership grew to over 100.
“I will still lobby for it here, but we still have so much planning to do and I’m not totally married to this path (of housing it on our property),” Twomey stressed.
Projected revenue streams from Camp Creek Wind Farm, along with federal grants and private funding from such organization as The Tracy Family Foundation, who, Twomey noted, accepted a meeting to discuss the initiative and potential grant funding sources. Regardless of where the CTE would be housed, one thing is certain, he stressed: SRC and MHS will not duplicate programs. For example, as HVAC is offered at Spoon River, it would not be a part of MHS’ vo-tech curriculum. Multiple programs would be offered between the two entities to benefit the region, he said.
The Community News Brief reached out to Spoon River College President Curt Oldfield following Monday’s meeting and discussion.
According to Oldfield, Spoon River College is “enthusiastically committed” to the regional Career and Technical Education Center partnership and shares the common goal of all stakeholders: creating expanded hands-on learning opportunities for students throughout our region.
“It is important for our region to focus on solutions for all students. The vision of this center would serve students from Bushnell- Prairie City, Macomb, West Prairie and other neighboring school districts. Also, SRC is interested in expanding opportunities for adult learners who are seeking career transitions,” Oldfield said. “Incumbent workers are another piece of the workforce who could utilize this center for skills enhancement. The SRC location removes the perception of the career center belonging to any single K-12 partner, flexibility of times courses and labs would be offered and gives the center an identity of a shared regional resource where employers, higher education and K-12 are all working together to educate the future workforce.”
Members of the CTE planning group have noted that they are considering travel time for Bushnell and West Prairie students as well. Oldfield added he appreciates the Macomb superintendent’s concerns about transportation and that Spoon River College has always been committed to finding creative solutions in the scheduling of courses or delivery methods to overcome this barrier.
“Spoon River College does not view this as a competition. We are committed to avoiding program duplication, coordinating curriculum planning, shared decision making and creating flexible solutions,” he concluded. “Spoon River College will be a collaborative partner in whatever configuration best serves the students and our region. I look forward to our continued partnership and the transformative impact this regional center will have on our communities.”
