Photo courtesy of Copper Country Intermediate School District CTE Construction Technology student Connor Kempanen works on a CTE residential house construction project.

HANCOCK – On May 5, voters in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties will decided on renewal of a 10-year, 0.9797 mill for continued funding for the Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

CCISD Superintendent Jim Rautiola emphasizes the request is for a continuation of current funding and not a request for a additional millage. The renewal would fund a continuation of CTE funding for the next 10 years.

Since the millage first passed in 2017, the CTE program has grown significantly and it has permitted businesses to grow and expand, while at the same time expanding the local economy and the job market. Local businesses have begun voicing support for the millage renewal, citing examples of the program’s success.

Braun Rosenlund, a partner with Bay Electric, in Dollar Bay, said his company has benefited extensively from the CTE Work-base learning program that CTE provides, as have several of his employees.

“It’s a resource the ISD provides early on, and I know even for the guidance counselors in the local schools, it’s a resource to discuss with students who are maybe not considering college,” Rosenlund said. “We’ve definitely benefited from that with students coming in and learning early on, before they turn 18, and getting some experience in the industry, then they can go immediately into the field when they graduate. Several of our electricians have gone through the program.”

Corey Soumis, CTE director, said CTE has grown out of what used to be high school vocational education.

CTE Work-based learning refers to students in the CTE programs such as the Construction Technology program, which provides students with knowledge and skills to build a residential structure from the foundation to its completion, said Soumis.

“Interested students enroll in the construction program for a school year,” said Soumis, “where they can get the basics down, and go on for a second year for work-based learning and go out to a site four or five days a week. And get more training on the job.”

Dereck Wuebben, president of Northern Heating and Plumbing, in Franklin Township, said, like Bay Electric, his company has also hired CTE graduates.

“We’ve been on the receiving end of some great candidates who have come through the program,” Wuebben said. “We’ve had different ones who’ve come through and didn’t know what direction they wanted to, but went through CTE with NH&P.”

Some students chose another direction, said Wuebben, while others stayed and remained employed with his company after graduating.

“A lot of these kids, at 16 and 17 years old, don’t really know what they want to do yet,” Wuebben said, “and CTE provides them with opportunities to test the waters.”

Wuebben said CTE provides other benefits to students. Many restrictions are lifted when they are in the programs, because they receive Department of Labor exemptions.