To the editor:

Thank you to the Journal for highlighting the generous grant the New Ulm Area Foundation awarded to the CTE Capital Campaign. Their $20,000 donation was used to purchase industry standard welding booths for the CTE Center.

We would like to issue one correction to the article, however. The district does not spend $2.2million of the general fund on the CTE program. $2.2million is the dollar amount the district spends on other state and federal student program requirements that are not fully funded.

The CTE Capital Campaign Committee is an effort by local business owners and community members with the ISD 88 Foundation as fiscal sponsor. Our goal is to raise $500,000 to provide industry standard equipment for students to learn on so they have the necessary experience to be able to transfer directly into the local workforce.

Thank you again to the New Ulm Area Foundation for recognizing the community’s need for skilled trade workers and for their donation to assist with that need. Thank you also to all of the generous donors that have helped us reach $200,000 of our $500,000 goal.

If you would like more information on the CTE Center, or if you would like to donate, please visit our website at www.isd88foundation.org/CTE.

The CTE Center Capital Campaign Committee

Tim Knaak and Nicole Briggs, Chairs