The construction of Selma High’s highly anticipated new Career Technical Education Building (CTE) has been officially completed. The building is said to be fully operational by the beginning of October, with its teachers already installed.
The planning began back in 2016. Both the Selma Unified School District and Valley ROP collaborated on a CTE facility grant from the state of California, the California Proposition 51. A funding initiative built to support the modernization and the construction of CTE facilities within public schools in the state of California. After applying for three CTE pathways, Selma USD was awarded the grant for both Manufacturing and Nursing health sciences or what we know as CNA.
The new CTE building that came from it, is to issue facilities where both CNA and Manufacturing will be hosted.
Additionally, the building will allow new technology integration. Students will be given the opportunity to work alongside future technologies and will be equipped with designs to simulate and allow hands-on training. They’ll be armed with modern industry standard equipment.
“This investment is not merely about physical infrastructure but extends to fostering a quality educational experience that yields proficient, workforce-ready graduates who will be serving the community in Selma as Nurses,” said VROP Superintendent Fabrizio Lofaro.
The program is aligned with the aim to better prepare students for the 21st-century workforce.
It will represent, according to Lofaro, a nexus of transformation, expansion of skill development, and community engagement for the program and for the school alike.
“The new facilities significantly elevate the quality of CTE education at Selma High School,” expressed Lofaro, “better aligning our instructional infrastructure with industry standards and the future of work.”
Among teachers and their programs, the building is said to bring forward many assets.
“They benefit my program and students by allowing us the space and tools we need to actually enhance our program to the fullest,” said Daniel Mireles, manufacturing teacher at Selma High.
Mireles trusts that the new building will allow students the benefits of being granted experience with the same machines found within the industry.
“We’re updating all our industry standard equipment,” said Mireles. “Students will actually learn, hands-on, what they do in the field.”
He anticipates that the modernization done by the CTE building will extend further beyond high school education opportunities.
“My hope is that more kids, more students are exposed to more opportunities out there, both college and career.” Mireles said. “[So, that] More students are prepared for the workforce, and more students are prepared to make a career after high school.”
Students in the program will be given project-based learning and specialized laboratories. The building grants a design that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom into the real world.
“That’s one of the best things you can do, show students how we do it in the real world” expressed Mireles. “So students can see how not only it’s good to be college ready; it’s good to be career ready, see how the two tie together and how important they are.”
In addition, the overall look of the building has innovated the outlook of the advisors.
“This particular classroom is very modern,” said Suricee Chambers, CNA teacher at Selma High. “The equipment is modern. The new desk back there is modern, [and] the television sets are modern. The overall appearance of the building is just different. It’s almost like you stepped into a new dimension.”
Chambers hopes that the building will help enable future growth in Selma High’s ground.
“I expect for the program to continue to grow. I’m hoping that as our programs grow, more CTE classes will be back there with us,” admitted Chambers.
Chambers believes the CTE building will act as a catalyst for renovation. She has high expectations and suggests that the modernization of the campus will be touched on more in the upcoming future.
“I think we are part of one of the many new renovations. This building is one of the many new things that’s going to be happening here at the high school,” Chambers added. “I think the whole school is going to undergo some transformations now.”
