Beshear Budget Plan Names Edmonson County Among Schools To Split $97 Million For Career and Technical Education

Darren Doyle, story:
As part of Governor Andy Beshear's $2 billion budget plan for pre-K through grade 12 education, Edmonson County has been named to receive part of the $97 million portion, should the plan be approved.

In a press release from the Governor's Office today, he said career and technical education centers are a critical component of high school curricula that help meet the needs of students in academic achievement, career exploration, career preparation and leadership development.

To support Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, Gov. Beshear said today that he is providing $97.4 million this year to support the renovation of 11 local CTE centers that were not funded last year through the Better Kentucky Plan. The CTE centers still in need are in the following school districts: Boyd, Carter, Edmonson, Fleming, Grayson, Lewis, Livingston, McCreary, Marshall, Nelson and Union counties.

Edmonson County currently offers welding, auto mechanics, marketing, business, and allied health classes, plus skilled trades that include electrical and engineering classes, along with two agri-science classes. The budget plan will still need final approval from the state legislation.

Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander said the school district is very excited to be named by the Governor in his budget address as one of the school districts to be funded for Local Area Vocational Education Center improvements in his press conference today.  

"We understand that this $97 million in funding is early in the appropriation stage, but we appreciate being a part of this," he said. "This will be a game-changer for vocational education in Edmonson County."

Callie Beliles, Director of Facilities and Safety, had similar comments.

"We are very excited for these potential funds, and we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to our elected officials and local legislators for putting a great emphasis on our school facilities and vocational education in Edmonson County," she said.

It has not yet been determined how much of the funding could come to Edmonson County under the Governor's budget plan.