New Ulm Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, located at 208 N. Valley Street officially opened in 2021. Recently a CTE Development Committee has started a fundraising subcommittee to hire a coordinator for the center.

NEW ULM – The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center is in need of a coordinator.

Thursday, Superintendent Sean Koster provided the District 88 School Board with an update on efforts to fill this position.

The CTE Center, located at 208 N. Valley Street was originally opened in 2021. The center seeks to educate students who are looking to learn a trade or technical skills. The CTE Center was opened as an extension to New Ulm Public Schools’ technical classes as well as further vocational training.

Koster said the coordinator position is designed to strengthen the work at the school’s CTE Center and be responsive to regional workforce needs.

For the last few years, the CTE Development Committee has been working to raise funds for equipment at the facility. The committee is made of individuals connected to the school and the New Ulm community at large. Koster said in the last 18 months, the committee has raised around $80,000 in donations for equipment.

“The community is really big on making sure their needs are met,” Koster said. “They have been really involved in this CTE campaign.”

Recently, the CTE Development committee has formed a subcommittee to fund a coordinator for the center. Koster said since the school is rarely flush with money for a new position, it was decided to seek fund from outside sources.

The fundraising subcommittee has an initial goal of securing $240,000 to support the coordinator position for two years. The committee plans to secure $120,000 in donor commitments before posting the position in the spring.

In addition to local donors, the committee is working with South Central Service Cooperative (SCSC) on setting aside three years of Perkins funding to support the position. This could help fund the position for up to three years.

Board member Matt Ringhofer asked if the committee had a long-term plan for funding the CTE coordinator position.

Koster said the focus is to secure three years of funding, then look into long-term funding. He said they are looking at other communities that fund CTE coordinators through a combination of public money. He said many communities utilize outside grants and funds.

School Board Chair Steve Gag said a part of the coordinator’s position duties could include seeking out and applying for available grants.

Koster said he and other members of the subcommittee will be speaking with several local groups to help raise the $120,000 funds for the program. He said the fundraising subcommittee is encouraged by early momentum on the program.

“Our community has really put their money where their mouth is,” Koster said. “With money being as tight as it is, there is a lot of gratitude towards the people in the community and local businesses willing to donate towards staffing.”

New Ulm Superintendent provides the New Ulm School board with an update on efforts to fund a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center Coordinator.