LPOSD to unveil the Career and Technical Education Center

By Reader Staff

The Lake Pend Oreille School District is opening its doors to the community for the grand opening of its new Career and Technical Education Center on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Everyone is invited from 3:30-5:30 p.m. for the unveiling of the new facility, located in the south wing of Sandpoint High School (410 S. Division Ave.).

“Career and Technical Education opens doors for students,” stated Superintendent Becky Meyer in a recent news release. “Our responsibility is to help each individual student discover their strengths, explore their interests and build the skills they need to be successful in whatever future they choose.”

The newly built classrooms will be available to all North Idaho high school students, regardless of enrollment in LPOSD, and will house classes on business, marketing, forestry, water resource management, construction, welding, journalism multimedia technology, nursing, sports medicine, IT, cybersecurity, drafting and design and more. 

The CTEC will also provide space for individual occupational training and the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, as well as upcoming automotive and culinary arts and hospitality classes, which will begin in the spring of 2027.

Students can even graduate with industry-recognized credentials, ready to enter the workforce immediately.

Students and faculty gather in the new CTEC building at SHS. Courtesy photo

“One of the most exciting things about career and technical education is that it helps students see possibilities,” Meyer said. “Whether a student dreams of working in health care, technology, construction, natural resources, business or another field entirely, these programs allow them to begin building those skills now.”

LPOSD undertook multiple years of planning and several grant submissions to secure funding for the CTEC building, which came through the competitive Idaho Career Ready Students Grant. LPOSD was chosen due to its commitment to expanding access to post-graduation career pathways outside of traditional continuing education through hands-on learning and work-based programs. 

Each program is tailored to area workforce needs, training students to enter the workforce or undergo apprenticeships, technical training, industry certifications, military service or college programs directly after graduation.

Attendees of the opening ceremony will have the opportunity to tour the facility, meet instructors and learn about the programs while enjoying light refreshments.

For more information, visit bit.ly/CTECOpening.

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