Mineola School Trustees put plans in place Monday, Feb. 11 that could result in the school district serving as a regional hub for career and technical education.

The board took several steps that would have Mineola hosting students from Alba-Golden, Yantis, Grand Saline and possibly other schools this fall for CTE programs, in conjunction with Tyler Junior College.

The district is already moving ahead with expanding its CTE offerings. By expanding to a regional model, the collaborating districts stand to have more courses for students than they might otherwise.

The first step approved by the board was for bids to build a welding shop in the space between the ag shop and the auto shop at the high school campus.

The district is seeking a grant from the Meredith Foundation for the structure, but MISD will construct the facility in any case.

The college has been working with the district on offering dual credit to students in the welding program.

MISD was successful working with the college and the industrial foundation to secure a grant for $257,908 from the Texas Workforce Commission that will equip the welding shop.

Bryan Renfro, TJC vice provost for workforce and academic affairs, said the grant helps ensure that the equipment is equivalent to modern industry standards.

Equipment includes 10 welders, a plasma table, iron working equipment and ventilation system.

The district will also be reworking the electrical system for the facility, to handle the additional load.

Trustees approved $103,904 for the 60x38 foot welding shop, including $44,364 for the metal building, $16,260 for the concrete, $41,780 for electrical work and $1,500 for exhaust fans.

After lengthy discussion trustees agreed to seek two grants that would enable the district to serve as the regional CTE hub.

It is anticipated that five to seven grants of up to $700,000 each will be awarded to districts through the Texas Education Agency in the Texas Regional Pathways Network.

As Director of Special Programs Mark Parkerson said, Mineola had already been in discussions about such a plan for two years The information gathered will enable the district to apply readily.

Requirements include participation from at least three school districts and from industry partners.

The district has already secured pledges from Sanderson Farms and Morton Salt and is working with other interested businesses.

The program must address job training in the area that are of high need, pay high wages and have a high growth rate, Parkerson said.

The two programs identified are industrial maintenance and heating/ventilation/air conditioning.

The participating districts would help fund the program by paying for seats, or student participation.

Parkerson said this kind of opportunity is once-in-a lifetime.

Renfro called the program innovative, cutting edge and visionary.

He said he has seen similar programs successful in other states.

One of the challenges will be where to house the program.

Superintendent Kim Tunnell said there are a couple lease spaces available to help get the program started as soon as the fall.

Longterm the district will need to consider new facilities, which led trustees to consider whether the district should pursue that option.

The third piece of the puzzle is a grant through the federal government that would offer up to $3 million in partnership with the city through the Economic Development Administration.

Other partners would include the Mineola Economic Development Corp., East Texas Council of Governments, CTE Mineola Foundation and perhaps the Wood County Industrial Commission.

The grant would fund up to 50 percent of a project.

Tunnell noted that should MISD be successful in its applications, the final decision would come back to the board for approval to move forward.

She said that while there would not be time to go to the voters for a bond issue to build a facility, the district could issue capital debt for construction.

She said that in talks with financial advisors, she learned Mineola is leaving $300,000 to $500,000 per year on the table in state aid for debt service, since the district is debt free.