State Superintendent visits Chippewa Falls High School to announced proposal for career and technical education programs

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - $60 million for career and technical education programs is being proposed by Wisconsin State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly.

A trip to Chippewa Falls High School was made Friday to make the announcement because it provides students with programs that could benefit from the funding.

“In order to move Wisconsin forward, we must invest in our kids and public schools,” said Dr. Underly.

Of the work the students demonstrated to the state superintendent: a small shop in the school, a big screen used for advertising or games at the gym in the school and courses in agriculture and livestock with the assistance of the Future Farmers of America.

The money ear marked in the biennial education budget is something Dr. Underly believes will help students statewide succeed.

“Unfortunately until now, the state has not provided a categorical funding for career and technical education. Leaving individual schools districts to self fund these important programs through their general K-12 funding,” said Dr. Underly.

“Those are expensive,” said Laura Bushendorf, the coordinator for career and technical education programs at the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District.

“Career and technical education is such an integral part of what we do in helping prepare students for college and career readiness and post secondary success,” said Bushendorf.

A student, now business owner post high school, that benefitted from a CTE program at Chi-Hi includes Natalie Schueller.

“They’ve given me the skills and just the basic animal skills and basic animal knowledge,” said Schueller.

Getting connected with the Future Farmers of America is something Schueller said helped her in the long run.

With her success in running an Equine business, she hopes to see more students take advantage of the programs available to them at the high school.

“I would love to just get more people involved as much as I can. Because you can learn so much and you can go in so many directions,” said Schueller.

It is also something State Superintendent Underly agrees with. Which is why she is looking to help fund programs like the FFA.

“We will provide $750,000 to each of the six statewide career and technical student organizations annually, beginning in fiscal year 26,” said Dr. Underly.

It will be up to the Republican-controlled state legislature to approve the budget.

Strong support for school funding is something Dr. Underly is confident in, to which she said is because of a high percentage of school referendums passing back on Election Day.