After proclaiming February “Career and Technical Education Month” in Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte paid a visit to Jefferson High School on Feb. 5 to see the real-world skills curriculum in action.
Gianforte happily told students about two bills produced by the 2023 Legislature in support of career and technical education (CTE) curricula, which encompasses wood and metal shop, drafting, cooking and computer classes, as well as business and finance courses. One, House Bill 257, increased the funding that school districts can receive from the state’s Advanced Opportunities program for CTE and science and technology programs. HB 382 provided more funds for school-based Career and Technical Student Organizations.
“About 40% of the high students that graduate will not go on to four-year colleges,” the governor said. “I’m very excited about these other new opportunities to learn important crafts, like how to balance a checkbook.”
“No one wants to live in a world without plumbers,” he added.
The governor and Representative Marta Bertoglio (R-Clancy) toured the school’s CTE facilities. In a wood shop class, Gianforte talked with students about their ambitious semester-long project to construct a canoe using wood from mostly Montana sources. Eric Gustafson teaches in the wood shop, and he beamed about his students. “We don’t use terms like ‘that’s close enough’ in here,” Gustafson said, showing off a raw cut of one piece of the canoe. “The kids make sure it is all precision. I’m amazed sometimes how much they stay with it and make sure about the details. Those parents are doing something right with those kids.”
Gianforte spoke with — and complemented — Dave Heinmann, who teaches welding and drafting at Jefferson. Heinmann presented the governor with a gift: a personalized wall mount made by JHS students.
The governor then went across the hall to visit with students in the computers and finance lab. He asked the students to tell him about something they learned and will take away from the class. He seemed impressed with the answers, ranging from calculating asset depreciation values to the steps required to acquire financing for a new car. He laughed at the answer from several students to his question of how they might spend some extra money: “New shoes.”
The governor told the class he was pleased with their success. “You know, we passed legislation last year so that all schools in Montana can have opportunities for classes like this, but you guys are already 10 years ahead,” referring to Business and Accounting teacher Dawn Smartnick’s 10 years at Jefferson and her work developing the CTE program.
He then surprised Smartnick with a letter recognizing her with a Montana Spirit Award, and with a flag that had flown over the capitol. Gianforte said her work with the Jefferson CTE program was a “template that will be used across the state.”
