Canton City, North Canton, Marlington and West Branch receive career tech grants

Benjamin Duer, Canton Repository
·2 min read
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Four Canton-area school districts are getting a financial boost to enhance their career technical education programs.

Gov. Mike DeWine this week announced 56 schools across Ohio were awarded grants through the latest round of the Career Technical Education Equipment program. The grants total more than $67.7 million and will be used to expand career tech courses and buy equipment.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine

“Investing in our schools is an investment into our students’ futures,” DeWine said in a prepared statement. “Allowing more schools to purchase equipment so they can train more students will set them and our state up for success.”

Three Stark County districts — Canton City, North Canton and Marlington — and West Branch in Mahoning County received grants. Here's how the districts will use the money:

  • Canton City School District ($698,776) — The grant will restart the district's computer science program at the middle school and high school levels, serving over 200 students. It also will pay for computer equipment, software, training and curriculum.

  • North Canton City School District ($2.5 million) — The grant will purchase equipment and technology for the district's engineering program. It also will fund training, safety equipment and facility upgrades required for the program.

  • Marlington Local School District ($622,580) — The funds will allow the district to offer a new coding-based curriculum at the high school and middle school. The money will help with the cost to increase lab space, purchase computer equipment, train teachers and use TechSmart curriculum. District officials anticipate program enrollment at 200 students total.

  • West Branch Local School District ($832,470) — The funds will expand and upgrade the welding lab, purchase robotics equipment, enhance media production opportunities for students and reinvent business classes into innovation labs. These labs will allow students to run their own business with products they design and create.

Renee Kaley, director of curriculum at Marlington, said the district will launch coding-based software courses this fall in the middle and high schools, with the drive to have more students complete internships, earn industry credentials, graduate and enter the workforce ready.

Micki Egli, superintendent of West Branch Local Schools, right, is pictured with Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in Reading, Ohio, where DeWine announced the latest school districts to get career tech grants. West Branch received a grant.
Micki Egli, superintendent of West Branch Local Schools, right, is pictured with Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in Reading, Ohio, where DeWine announced the latest school districts to get career tech grants. West Branch received a grant.

"We believe this opportunity will not only benefit our students but also contribute to the growth and prosperity of our community. I am incredibly proud of our district's commitment to providing our students with pathways to success in fields that are in demand," Marlington Superintendent Dan Swisher said.

Tamiko Hatcher, director of Career Prep Innovations, Pathways & Partnerships at McKinley High in Canton, said the grant allows the district to "provide another avenue for students to move to what we consider a pathway to prosperity."

He said many employers want to hire individuals already certified in computer programming and the district's courses would allow "students to compete for a job right out of high school" without getting into college debt.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton, North Canton, Marlington & West Branch get career tech grants