Dear Farwell Families,
I’m reaching out to make sure you’re aware of what’s on the ballot - and what’s at stake - on May 6. That’s the day Clare-Gladwin RESD will ask voters to renew the CTE millage they originally approved in 2016. You’re probably very familiar with the fantastic growth that millage has afforded our high school students in Farwell for nearly a decade. But with that ten-year millage set to expire, we need to take the case to voters once again and make sure they understand exactly what CTE is all about - its impact on our kids, our communities and our local workforce. So with that in mind, I’m sharing these three things you need to know:
1. CTE has blown the doors of opportunity wide open for our young people. Whether it’s longstanding programs like Construction Trades and Health Occupations or newer offerings like Diesel & Heavy Equipment, CTE is setting up local youngsters to succeed in exciting, high-demand careers. The future of local skilled trades has never been brighter, and CTE has played a huge role in its ascent.
2. CTE’s impact on local employers and our communities is undeniable. It’s not just that CTE is training kids in skilled trades; it’s that we’re steering them to those careers with employers right here in our own communities. It’s a beautiful partnership, the living, breathing epitome of a win/win, and it’s only going to improve moving forward. It’s what our communities need, right when we need it most.
3. Passage of the May 6 CTE renewal request won’t increase your taxes - not one bit. When voters originally approved the CTE millage in 2016, it was a huge vote of confidence in CTE, its programs and its students. With this request to renew the existing millage, it’s a chance to keep things going strong at no additional cost to taxpayers - a unique, powerful opportunity.
There’s plenty more to learn at CTEitsWorking.com/millage. There, you’ll find facts and figures, Frequently-Asked Questions, infographics and the crowd-pleasing CTE Success Stories - tales of former CTE students and the impact the program had on their careers and lives. (There’s a pretty good chance you’ll recognize some of those students.) Please feel free to visit the site, and to encourage others in your circle of colleagues, friends and family to do the same.