School Committee approves funding for potential after-dark career and technical education program

The Waltham School Committee approved a budget Wednesday that includes funding for a new 12-month position to support expanded career and technical education programming, including a potential “after-dark program” for adults and recent graduates.

School Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa said the new role would oversee communication, recruitment, grants and budgeting for CTE initiatives spanning K–12, not just the high school. The position also would help develop a proposed evening program that could offer community members courses in areas such as auto repair and website creation.

“These could be as small as a six-week course to just learn how to change your oil,” Mendonsa said during the meeting, “but you could also build it out to be larger, where you could earn credentials through a longer-term program.”

The district is considering using CTE-designated spaces at the 617 Lexington St. campus to host the program. 

Mendonsa noted the initiative could help meet local workforce needs and provide new learning pathways for former students who did not initially enroll in CTE programs.

The approved budget includes about 17 new positions across the district totaling $1,398,909.