Meeting a demand: Grant will create Marshall ISD dual-credit program in partnership with TSTC

New dual-enrollment opportunities are on the horizon at Marshall ISD thanks to a job training grant secured by the City of Marshall and Marshall Economic Development Corp. in partnership with Texas State Technical College-Marshall.

“This is one that’s near and dear to my heart,” said MEDCO Executive Director Rush Harris. “It is the pursuit of grants from the Texas Workforce Commission for the manufacturing and technology pathway in Marshall Independent School District, starting with the ninth and 10th grades.”

Harris said the Texas Workforce Commission awarded $150,000 for the program. As approved by the City Council, MEDCO will fund the remainder, up to $270,000, for a total of $420,000. The state grant is administered through Workforce Solutions East Texas. 

“The high-demand job training grant is one only an economic development corporation can apply for,” Harris recently told the Marshall City Council.

Under the agreement between East Texas Workforce Development and MEDCO, the two entities will partner with Marshall ISD to purchase educational and training curriculum, equipment and supplies to create a new manufacturing and technology program of study in the manufacturing and engineering focused areas at Marshall High School and TSTC-Marshall. It will be the first two years of a four-year program that provides an overview of manufacturing processes and can lead into multiple dual-credit pathways at TSTC- Marshall.

“The introductory courses expose students to a multitude of local manufacturing industry needs, including training in tool identification, measuring, electrical, vertical milling, and lathe milling,” the agreement says. “Machine programming, automation, and process operations will be covered during the first two years. Marshall ISD and MEDCO plan to start with 50 to 75 students during the first year. The students will choose which occupation and they will pursue that occupation after the first two years of study.”

The hands-on training will give students a chance to become certified through the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA). 

Community partnership

Harris said MEDCO was encouraged by the local Workforce and Educational Alignment Group (We Align Council) to pursue the grant. The advisory council was established by MEDCO in 2021 and is composed of individuals representing business, education, workforce and industry sectors of the community. According to MEDCO, the aim of the council is to strengthen the connection between local businesses and educators to meet
industry needs.

“(The council meets) monthly to discuss workforce and education alignment to make sure that we are teaching the things that industry demands,” Harris said. “So this particular project was brought to them. We applied, (and) we were ultimately approved. It took over a year, but it’s definitely a community effort wanted by the people in our business and education community.”

Funding will provide state-of-the art equipment, updated curriculum and industry- recognized certification opportunities for MISD students.

According to MEDCO, through the expanded CTE program, students will gain hands-on skills in welding and fabrication, preparing them for careers in manufacturing and construction; CNC machining and mechatronics, equipping future professionals for precision and high-tech manufacturing; and IT support and troubleshooting, building essential technology and digital literacy skills.

‘Significant boost’

According to MEDCO, the skills in the program directly align with high-demand careers in the community, where entry-level CNC machinists average more than $25 an hour, computer support specialists earn about $31 an hour and experienced welders earn a salary of $46,000 or more annually.

“Students come out with making over $50,000,” Harris said. “That’s above what used to be the household median income for our area. Now that’s the starting pay. So this would be a significant boost for the long-term future.”

Harris said this is a powerful investment in Marshall ISD students and the community’s economic future.

“By connecting education to industry needs, we’re ensuring Marshall has a skilled, job- ready workforce for years to come,” he said. “Industry is telling us what they need, and we are listening.”

“We really need to create awareness of these jobs, many of which manufacturing technology is not as well known as a doctor or a lawyer,” he added. “These are jobs that aren’t really discussed a lot in the mainstream, but they pay really well, and you don’t necessarily need a four-year degree, or even sometimes a two-year degree. Sometimes all you need is a certificate. So we’re setting up our kids and our future and the wealth of our community to grow by encouraging this type of program.

“It establishes a very accessible way for students to get awareness and get through a program that could bring them even out of generational poverty in our community,” he said. “It’s accessible as long as you apply yourself and get started early enough. This is really a path to breaking free from some of those cycles.”

Mayor Amy Ware said she’s excited as well and looks forward to seeing the implementation of the CTE equipment in the newly constructed career and technical center and CTE class space, provided through the district’s $41.9 million bond project. 

“It’s good timing, because we’re finishing the remodels (at MHS),” Ware said. “It’s looking great. We can’t wait to all get a tour of it when it’s finished, and hopefully maybe coincide with getting the CTE equipment in there that we need to continue and expand these programs.

“I don’t know if some people are aware we have a lot of dual-enrollment students at Marshall High School,” she added. “This just brings in one of our other local higher educational partners so that we can do even more with TSTC, because not everybody wants a two-year associate’s or four-year bachelor’s, and this fills workforce demand in our area.”