HARRISBURG — Bradford Area School District and Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center are among 55 centers statewide set to collectively receive more than $4 million in competitive grant funding.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education on Thursday announced the list of grant recipients. Funds will be used to purchase new equipment to help train students in high-demand occupations through career and technical education (CTE) programs.
In Bradford, according to BHS Principal and CTE program director David Ray, the $84,075 grant will allow for the addition of a five-axis CNC mill for its machine technology program.
“This computerized, robotic manufacturing mill is basically state of the art, it’s what local companies at the forefront of manufacturing are using,” Ray said.
Students first write a computer program that is transferred into the mill and “from there it’s basically hands-off manufacturing,” he explained, adding the program has two other CNCs but that they require more tool changing.
He said the new mill will “give us the ability to make bigger machine parts and more-complex machine parts to tighter tolerances.”
According to Ray, the grant amount “is basically the cost of the machine; it’s not a cheap piece of equipment.
“We’re excited. We’ve been looking for sources to purchase one of these for a couple of years now,” he continued. “We’ve reached the point in the program where this is something that we really need and our students are going to benefit from having it — we’re training our students on the equipment that they’re going to see out there in the workforce.”
At Seneca Highlands Career and Technical Center in Port Allegany, the $85,000 grant will be used to purchase a Freightliner M2 106 Plus for use in its automotive mechanics technology program.
The center’s grant application reads, “Upon the acquisition of the Freightliner M2 106 Plus, our state-of-the-art truck, the automotive instructor will undertake specialized professional development provided directly by the manufacturer. This targeted training will furnish the instructor with extensive knowledge and hands-on skills, particularly in the operation, maintenance and instructional application of this advanced technology. This endeavor ensures that our program is equipped with the latest tools and knowledge, keeping our curriculum at the leading edge of automotive education and in alignment with industry standards and PDE expectations.”
Program students perform service, repair and maintenance procedures on various vehicle makes and models. The curriculum includes instruction on power trains, engines, suspensions, brakes, exhaust and more, according to the center’s website.
“Career and technical education programs provide students with the skills and hands-on experience they need to build careers in high-demand, high-paying fields throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Khalid N. Mumin. “These grants will expand and improve access to first-class equipment and experiences for students and builds on the commitment of the Shapiro Administration to help students chart their own course by making sure all students have access to a world-class education to sustain them for life.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2024-25 budget proposal, first unveiled this week, includes more than $121 million for career and technical education, and $15 million for career and technical education equipment grants.
There are more than 80 CTCs in Pennsylvania that offer a combination of classes and hands-on learning in programs approved by the Department of Education. Thousands of students earn industry credentials or certifications for local jobs in high demand.
