Marshall Public Schools building and grounds supervisor Warren Buchholz and Superintendent Jeremy Williams talked about ongoing work to build a Career and Technical Institute in Marshall during a site tour Monday. Buildings the district bought along North U.S. Highway 59 have been gutted ahead of renovation work.

MARSHALL — Work is underway to prepare the site of the Marshall Public School District’s new Career and Technical Institute. On Monday, school board members toured property the district purchased along North U.S. Highway 59, as a home for advanced welding, automotive and Certified Nursing Assistant courses.

“Our plan is to open our new Career and Technical Institute in the fall of 2023,” said MATEC assistant principal Amanda Pederson.

“We’ve had many conversations about how this is the start,” Pederson said of the first three courses that will be offered at the CTI. “When we expand, other considerations we’ve been having conversations about is, how can we continue with health care courses, and the construction trades.”

Career and Technical Education courses at the new institute will bring together academic knowledge and occupational knowledge and skills, Pederson said. “What we’re doing is, we’re working to help our students earn and understand the skills that they’re going to need, whether they’re going to chose a pathway to college or eventually a career.”

Minnesota organizes CTE programs into six general career fields, Pederson said. Those fields include agriculture, food and natural resources; communications and information systems; engineering, manufacturing and technology; health science; human services; and business management and administration. MPS has its own career field wheel that corresponds with the state one. Pederson said the MPS career wheel was used to make brochures explaining possible career pathways and suggested coursework for each career.

The state also has to approve CTE programs for school districts. “With that, we have access to state and federal funding that supports our CTE programs,” Pederson said.

Pedersen said MPS also wanted to continue to build partnerships with local employers as it develops career and technical education programs into the future.

The buildings where welding, automotive and CNA programs will open have been gutted ahead of renovations, MPS officials said. Some utility work, like installing electrical panels and putting in plumbing connections for bathrooms, has already been done. Lifts for the automotive shop have also been ordered.

MPS Superintendent Jeremy Williams said the district is still working through the permitting process for the CTI. However, he said, they’re still aiming for a fall opening.

“We have hired an administrative assistant. Her job will officially start in August,” Pedersen said.

Pederson said Marshall High School students have already put in requests for classes – including CTE courses – for the 2023-24 school year, but class schedules have not yet been finalized. Pederson said it’s mainly older students who would be able to request the advanced classes.

“It’s exciting. It’s getting more real as we get out there,” Pederson said.