NOSD technical education to take spotlight at open house

The Northern Ozaukee School District will host an open house for local businesses and others interested in its technical education program at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, beginning in the Ozaukee High School Innovation Room.

The event will include a tour of school facilities, showcasing their woods and metal shops, which have been upgraded in recent months with the help of local businesses.

“We are proud of the emphasis we are putting on creating top-notch facilities for our students interested in the trades and greatly appreciate the outstanding support and input we have received from our local businesses,” NOSD Supt. Dave Karrels said. 

“In Wisconsin, there is a major shortage of workers in the skilled trades and we want to make sure our students are best prepared to step into some excellent career opportunities.”

The district made upgrading its technical education program a priority as part of an April 2018 school building referendum, committing $250,000 to the effort.

Since then, the School Board formed a technical-education advisory committee that has solicited input from local manufacturers, tradespeople and others, many of them with children who attend school in the district or see the advantages of the program supplying trained employees.

Companies involved in the program include Oldenburg Metal Tech, Ram Tool Inc., Carlson Tool, CD Smith Construction, J&H Heating, Central United Corp., Krier Foods, Neuens Lumber and Alpine Plumbing.

The district has also received grant funding from the state Department of Workforce Development.

“We want to become the best at tech ed or advanced manufacturing, and the way to do that is to partner with businesses so we can get these graduates trained so they can go to work at these businesses,” School Board President Brent Neis said during an open house last year.

For more information, contact Karrels at dkarrels@nosd.edu.