Future career paths are often in the minds of high school students, and Baraboo High School offers a trade education program to help students get a head start.
The school's technical education program offers instruction in a variety of areas and continues to attract student interest. The program teaches auto repair, welding, woodworking, cooking, manufacturing, and more. Principal Steve Considine said the youth apprenticeship program is primarily available to seniors.
“We're giving our kids a really good opportunity to try out different hands-on trades that are so important right now,” said Ethan Engevold, technical education instructor at Baraboo High School. “I think we do a really good job of teaching students that kind of thing at a young age, and a lot of local businesses are really excited about being able to hire those students when they graduate. I am benefiting from it.”
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Engewold said one of the students graduating in 2023 went into welding after entering his junior year, enrolled in an affiliated program at UW-Madison and is now working in the field.
“Our counselors started this year and will now meet with all students when determining course schedules,” Considine said. “They start asking questions like, 'What are your plans after high school? How can we help?'” (Conversation)
Students interested in the trade are enrolling in technical education courses, and young people are being given apprenticeship opportunities, he said.
Considine hopes to hold a career fair in the fall of the 2024-25 school year to further showcase the school's career education efforts.
In 2016, a $22 million referendum was passed to improve funding for equipment purchases for high school technical education programs. Since then, its growth has been “significant,” allowing it to hire additional teachers and enroll more interested students, including an estimated 200 during the 2024-25 school year. said Engevold.
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“This is a very popular place for kids to earn elective credits, and we're proud to have programs that people want to enjoy, participate in, and learn from,” Engevold said.
He said companies such as McFarlane Manufacturing in Sauk City, Synergy Metalworks in Baraboo, Chrysler dealership Bakrod Baraboo Motors and Don Larson Chevrolet Buick GMC employ former students from the high school's technical education program. He added that it is one of the companies that has done so.
Mike Moran, a technical education instructor at the school, said the program, especially the auto repair course, receives donations of auto parts and wood for woodworking from area businesses.
“If (the school district) had to fund it, there wouldn't be any materials for the kids to work on,” Moran said, adding that engines and transmissions are also among the parts donated to automotive courses. He added that it is.
He said his relationship with the company stemmed from a six-year youth apprenticeship. Moran added that during discussions about the possibility of new apprenticeships, the company had agreed to donate parts to the school.
Culinary arts students learn baking and cooking skills and hygiene methods. Dawn Lieber, a former home economics and consumer sciences teacher who now serves as a substitute, said the students received ServSafe certifications from a training course on proper food handling to prevent foodborne illness.
Lieber is currently filling in for Terra Freeman, who is on leave of absence, and has started the high school's ProStart program, a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program.
“She's very creative and very organized,” Lieber said of Freeman. “She holds her students to high standards in every class.”
Trayton Lapaczek, a senior at the high school, said he and a group of students placed third out of five at Wisconsin Dells High School's hamburger contest earlier this year.
“Our educators go above and beyond to ensure our students receive comprehensive training, personalized instruction, and are exposed to the latest industry practices and technology,” said District Superintendent Laney Briggs. “I am doing so,” he said. “Through these courses, students will develop critical problem-solving, critical thinking and collaboration skills that will be highly valued in any career path.”
The technical education program also offers industry-related certifications for students who wish to pursue a career path other than a four-year college degree after graduation, Briggs added.
Mr. Considine also wants to spread awareness about the program and other educational services throughout the district and encourages anyone to contact him for a tour of the school.
“When you graduate from here, we want to make sure you are successful in whatever you do,” Considine said. “ACT (scores) are important, but post-BHS success is most important to us. It seems to be different for each student.”
Reporter John Gittings can be reached at (920) 210-4695.