BUSD to add career technical education tracks

The Bonsall Unified School District will be adding three career technical education tracks.

One of those tracks will focus on manufacturing while two pathways will emphasize computer science with one of those featuring cybersecurity and the other focusing on games and simulation. Bonsall High School Principal Jason Fowler gave a presentation on the CTE tracks during the April 14 BUSD board meeting.

Students who participate in career technical education programs have higher graduation rates than the statewide average. CTE courses also allow students to acquire workforce and life skills. BUSD has provided a CTE pathway in digital media since 2014. "A lot of kids have found some work right after the high school," Fowler said.

The availability of jobs in North County led the school district to choose the manufacturing and computer science paths. "We took a lot of time to survey the landscape," Fowler said.

All three CTE pathways would include relevant certification for students who complete all of the courses. "Kids would be walking out of these things with certificates," Fowler said.

The manufacturing occupations include electrical and electronics engineering technicians, electromechanical technicians, industrial engineering technicians, mechanical engineering technicians, electrical and electronics installers and repairers, and transportation equipment personnel.

"Manufacturing is a field that is really growing," Fowler said.

Many manufacturing jobs for students out of high school pay between $31 to $44 per hour. "It's a great opportunity for our students," Fowler said. "We're absolutely dedicated to that pathway."

The manufacturing program will have a machining and forming pathway. The 10th-grade class will be an introduction to engineering and technology, and sophomores will also experience workplace tours, guest speakers, and interviews.

The 11th-grade course will address computer-aided manufacturing and, pending final approval from the Palomar Community College District, 11th-graders can receive community college credit for Machining 190 and/or a computer numerical control Machining/Master CAM course taught by Palomar's Machining Technologies department. The work-based learning for juniors will include job shadowing, virtual exchange, and workplace experience.

Twelfth graders will take an advanced manufacturing class, and seniors may also obtain Palomar College credit for Machining 191 or for a CNC Machining/Master CAM course. The work-based learning for seniors will provide a capstone project and an internship. The Skills USA vocational arts club has various activities including regional and higher-level competitions, and manufacturing students in all grades will be able to participate in those.

If a student completes Machining 192, he or she may obtain a Master CAM certification from Palomar College.

In the computer science industry, professions such as computer support specialist or technician, local area network administrator, network systems analyst, data communication analyst, software technician, and technical support representative do not require a four-year college degree. "There are all kinds of things, all kinds of doors that open with this particular certificate," Fowler said.

Some positions which do not require college education have beginning pay of approximately $26 per hour. "Those have immediate paychecks attached," Fowler said. "Even going into those fields right out of high school pays some dividends."

If a student leverages career technical education into a bachelor's degree or higher, he or she may engage in such careers as software developer, programmer, software or hardware architect, software or systems engineer, business analyst, web developer, and communications engineer.

Bonsall High School 10th graders in the cybersecurity pathway will take an information technology fundamentals class and may take Palomar College's Computer Science Network Technology 110 (hardware and operating system fundamentals) class. Sophomores in the cybersecurity program will also have workplace tours, guest speakers, and interviews.

A Bonsall High School junior would take a cybersecurity networking class and may take the CSNT 111 (networking fundamentals) class from Palomar College, and the work-based learning for 11th graders will provide job shadowing, virtual exchange, and workplace experience.

After completing the 10th grade and 11th grade requirements, students may receive information technology fundamentals certification.

Twelfth graders in the cybersecurity program will take an advanced cybersecurity networking class and may take the Palomar College CSNT 160 (Cisco networking fundamentals) class, and the seniors' work-based learning will consist of a capstone project and an internship. A network certification will be given to students who complete all three years of the cybersecurity program, and during those three years they may also participate in the Technology Student Association CyberPatriot program.

Those in the games and simulations pathway will have the same work-based learning items as their cybersecurity counterparts, although with a different subject matter. Tenth graders will take introduction to computer science; in 11th grade, students will take video game design, and seniors will have a video game programming class.

Palomar College will offer a programming and fundamentals course for sophomores, a video game design class for juniors, and a video game programming class for seniors. Unity user certification will be given to those who complete the requirements, and games and simulations students may participate in Technology Student Association activities.

Bonsall High School plans to begin offering the machining and forming, cybersecurity, and games and simulations pathways for the 2021-22 school year. The school district is seeking funding from the Strong Workforce Grant program to supplement the career technical education funding which will be used.