Ranum Reimagined is hitting a home run

Cross Currents

Go back to January 25 of this year when Westminster Public Schools unveiled their vision for a state-of-the-art Career Technical Education Center (I still like to use the term vocational training). It was and is a reason to celebrate as school district leaders put their money where their mouths are in investing in reality for many students.

Using the slogan “Ranum Reimagined”, the district is investing $20 million in a phased revamping of Ranum Middle School and equipping it with a wide variety of Career/Tech equipment.

WPS has o ered a variety of CTE courses in the past but has not had the space to expand the curriculum. If you want to go way back, I remember the Career Enrichment Park including Le Parc Restaurant. Now, they will be moving forward in an expanded selection of courses which o er good paying jobs in several elds.

Phase I will expand beyond the current curriculum by adding pharmacy technicians, physical therapists, sports medicine, certi ed nursing assistants and more. Based on student survey data, future phases will likely include public safety with programs in policing, re sciences and emergency medicine in Phase II and aviation, aerospace and aeronautics and drone technology in Phase III.

Ryan McCoy, Executive Director of Post-Secondary Workforce Readiness, heads up the overall program. He and the WPS sta have a golden opportunity to make a huge di erence in the lives of many WPS graduates. God speed.

Focusing on the demographics and desires of the students

“Ranum Reimagined” hits the target with its increased emphasis on Career/Tech courses which are coupled with math, science and other fundamentals to strengthen pursuing various pathways. For longer than I wish to recall, I have espoused