To help local students better prepare for Colorado Springs' booming industry, District 11 wants to offer new options aimed at launching a career in technology.
Colorado Springs Technical College (CSST) will become an innovation zone in partnership with the school district, local universities, industry, and government to increase professional STEM career opportunities for area students.
On Wednesday night, the D-11 School Board approved an innovation zone application to be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval during its regular meeting.
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Rather than being an innovation school, an innovation zone leverages existing infrastructure across multiple facilities to deliver specialized curriculum of the type offered in independent schools.
If approved, the CSST zone would incorporate the UCCS Cybersecurity Research Center and the National Cybersecurity Center for industry professionals to teach D-11 in addition to certified educators.
Specifically, the innovations detailed in the application include space leadership, applied cyber science, and ethical It was entrepreneurial spirit.
In addition to offering specialized courses in these areas, CSST will offer students dual enrollment opportunities with UCCS and Pikes Peak State University, as well as internships and certifications through coursework.
The school hopes to meet current employment needs in Colorado Springs' local technology industry by offering a unique curriculum not currently offered at the district's high schools.
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Board members also expressed hope that the school will attract other students to the district and increase enrollment.
Dr. Perth Melpakkam, Chairman of the Board, said the ability for students to meet regularly with industry leaders and experts in the classroom provides a unique opportunity for the school to offer.
“When they see that, they’re incredibly motivated,” he said.
The idea for the school came together when UCCS, Pikes Peak State University, the Air Force Academy, the National Cybersecurity Center, the Space Foundation, and the Chamber of Commerce all successfully applied for a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) . Cybersecurity research.
With a local ecosystem in place for this industry already in place and NSF prioritizing education and the need to increase staffing, the possibility of an innovation zone was developed after Superintendent Michael Gaal expressed similar interest to stakeholders. I started exploring sexuality.
During the meeting, Gaal said the proposal was in response to feedback from local families who support school choice and believe the school can provide a niche experience for selected students.
“We're responding to what we think is a market demand,” he said.
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Mr. Garl will be joined by UCCS President Jennifer Sobanet, National Cyber Security Center CEO Harry Raduge, Pikes Peak State University President Lance Bolton, and Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce CEO Johnna Rieder Kreimeyer. He will also serve on the school's board of directors. Approved.
Various members of the public expressed both support and concern about the proposed innovation zone. Proponents believe it would provide more school choice and learning opportunities for students, while opponents believe it would hire unlicensed teachers and deviate too much from the current public school curriculum. expressed concern.
Board member Julie Ott also expressed concerns about hiring unlicensed teachers, but added that the current proposal does not have the same level of detail and scrutiny as charter school applications. Exactly how counselors, social workers, special education and school districts plan to fund schools is one element missing from the current proposal.
He also said much of what the plan proposes could be accomplished by investing more deeply in the district's current high school CTE program.
“I think this is isolating some students, and that’s a concern to me,” she said of the current proposed application.
Conversely, other board members believe that industry experts, rather than licensed educators, can provide a unique approach to education through a real-world perspective, and that this zone is designed to accommodate a diverse range of students. We believed it was an innovative solution that met our needs.
The board ultimately voted 6-1 to approve the application.
The initial hope is to open in the fall of 2024, and the application must be approved by the Colorado State Board of Education before details such as the high school's location are determined and ultimately approved by the district board. There is.
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