BISMARCK -- North Dakota high school students will find out next spring if lawmakers are willing to spend more money to increase accessibility to career and technical education classes.
The State Board for Career and Technical Education approved Monday a nearly $5 million list of optional budget requests to present to legislators during the 2011 session.
The list includes $750,000 to expand the number and availability of career and technical education programming, including cooperative arrangements and distance learning.
There is also a $2.4 million request to provide funding for two new virtual centers.
These centers use ITV and the Internet to provide career and technical classes to students who wouldn't otherwise have access, said Wayne Kutzer, director of the state Department of Career and Technical Education. The state now has three centers that serve surrounding cities near Dickinson, Rugby and Bismarck.
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The potential new centers would be in northwestern and northeastern North Dakota, if plans are submitted and approved, Kutzer said.
In other business, the board granted a provisional status to the authorization to operate request from Sister Rosalind Gefre School of Professional Massage in Fargo.
After some financial issues, the Minnesota-based school has hired a management company to reorganize its finances and seek new investors, said Debra Huber of the state Department of Career and Technical Education.
Huber recommended the board approve the school's renewal of authorization to operate in North Dakota with conditions. For any new North Dakota students enrolling in the school, the management company must provide a form of financial guarantee for the students' investment in tuition and fees.
The board agreed to allow the school to continue to operate with conditions.
Teri Finneman is a multimedia reporter for Forum
Communications Co.
