Why Grand Forks and Other School Districts Are Urging the State to Fund Career Training Center Cost Overruns

Officials in Grand Forks are pushing for more funding to help local career and technical education centers cover rising costs. The Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is requesting $56 million in one-time funding. This money would be used to build new vocational training centers and support existing ones facing financial challenges.

Many of the CTE centers, like the Career Impact Academy in Grand Forks, have had to cut back or borrow money due to their construction costs soaring unexpectedly. Eric Ripley, a local education director, said it’s a shared issue that affects all CTE projects across the state.

Vocational training programs are becoming popular in North Dakota and beyond, especially as states grapple with a labor shortage. Back in 2021, legislators set aside around $88 million in federal relief funds to help build new centers. Thirteen projects received grants, with some receiving the maximum of $10 million.

However, the funds didn’t arrive until 2023, which delayed construction. During this wait, both labor and material costs increased, causing projects to go over budget. For instance, Grand Forks originally planned to spend $24.7 million on its facility, but estimates have now jumped to about $31 million.

Schools have had to either scale down their projects or take on debt to manage these costs. For example, the James Valley Career and Tech Center needs about $625,000 to finish its project. Meanwhile, Cass County requires an additional $11.2 million to complete its center, which will serve various Fargo-area schools.

The business manager in Grand Forks, Brandon Baumbach, is optimistic about getting state help to pay off the bond debt for the Career Impact Academy. Some cuts have already been made, such as removing a welding lab and a multipurpose classroom from the plans. They may seek private donations for those additions later.

Much of the blame for the increased costs falls on the federal government’s slow release of funds. NDCTE is again asking for help from legislators to cover the extra expenses for 10 projects and is seeking an additional $33 million for new CTE centers in areas where none currently exist.

Sick from NDCTE emphasized the need to complete the projects as initially promised. This isn’t the first time they’ve approached lawmakers for this kind of financial support. Last session, they requested a similar amount, but only $33 million was approved, leaving a significant gap.

Some lawmakers are cautious about allocating more funds to CTE centers. During a recent Senate hearing, concerns were raised about whether new projects should be funded without specific plans in place. Sen. Scott Meyer pointed out that $56 million is a considerable amount and needs to be thoroughly evaluated in the context of the overall budget.

Governor Kelly Armstrong praised CTE centers for their vital role in workforce development during his State of the State address. He called vocational training a “gamechanger.” However, his proposed budget does not include funding for ongoing grant programs, raising questions about future support for these essential educational facilities.

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