Pascagoula-Gautier School District receives grant to expand CTE programs
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WXXV)- Students in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District will soon have new opportunities to train for high-demand careers.
The district is receiving $1.2 million in state grant funding to expand career and technical education programs. CTE and Workforce Development Director Dr. Derek Read said, “First reaction was, I was like is it real or not? Because this is something that we’ve been trying to do, I mean the building is 50 years old. There are things that the district does every year to help us but the way the industry changes especially every 6 months it’s like there is something new in the industry. It’s hard to keep up with equipment especially in public education. So, legislative funding like this really helps us take that step to match what the industry is doing. What we do for our students is we try to tie what they want to do whether it be college or career to what’s going on in the business industry. So, it helps us keep up with the times.”
The investment will provide students with updated equipment, expanded learning opportunities, and additional pathways into the workforce.
The grant will fund the launch of a new aquaculture program, provide upgraded equipment for the health sciences program, and expand the district’s ‘Hired Up’ initiative, which connects students with local employers and career pathways.
School leaders say the improvements are designed to better prepare graduates for both the workforce and higher education. “A lot of people to thank really. None of this could be done if we didn’t have the administration that supports, not just this building, but all of our administrators have the freedom to think outside of the box. Which I feel like today that’s what it takes. We have seen Coast wide, Long Beach has gotten funding, Stone County has gotten funding, which is so needed. Moss Point got funding and to finally get that ourselves just to expand on the great things that we do on the entire Gulf Coast.”
District officials say they can’t wait to get plans underway, with students expected to benefit from the expanded opportunities in the coming school year.
