COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT AWARDED GRANT TO BUILD NEW SCHOOL FOR CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
HACKENSACK, NJ – Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco and the Board of County Commissioners announce that the Bergen County Technical School District is the recipient of a New Jersey Department of Education Securing Our Children's Future Grant, which will provide funding to build a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) School in Bergen County.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) bridges the gap between high school and postsecondary plans, providing a versatile curriculum that prepares students for their next step, whether it is a trade apprenticeship program, a two-year college, or four-year college. CTE focuses on academic, employability, and technical skills used in a specific occupation. The new Bergen County CTE School, which is set to be located in Paramus, will feature programs tailored to address shortages in high-demand fields that will help our nation remain competitive in a 21st century global economy including Fabrication and Design, Logistics, and Dental Science.
Under the terms of the grant, the State Department of Education will fund 75% of the total project with the County providing the additional 25%. The Bergen County Technical School District is expected to receive $25,875,000 from the Department of Education for the new CTE School while the County is responsible for an additional $8,625,000. The first reading of the bond ordinance for the new school will go before the County Board of Commissioners tonight.
“This new school will prepare our next generation to be competitive in a 21st-century workforce, by bridging the gap between traditional schools and emerging high-demand fields of employment,” said Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco. “This investment in Career and Technical Education expands our already stellar County Technical School District and furthers their mission of preparing our students to actively participate in a global community.”
According to Dr. Howard Lerner, Superintendent of the Bergen County Technical School District, “The Board of Education and school administration are grateful to all the county officials for supporting the addition of three new programs, which will allow BCTS to meet the increased demand for CTE programs by county residents. These new programs will provide students the requisite academic and technical skills to pursue postsecondary/technical education, apprenticeship programs, or immediate entry into the workforce upon graduation.”
“The real-world learning our students receive through Career and Technical Education will position them for success in tomorrow’s economy,” said Bergen County Commission Chairman Steve Tanelli. “This new school is going to create tremendous opportunities for our students, and we are fortunate to have a forward-thinking Superintendent and educators who plan and prepare for years in advance in anticipation of meeting our needs for tomorrow and beyond.”