By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Plans are underway to launch an advanced manufacturing track at Salisbury High School. On Monday, Mandy Mills, director of Career and Technical Education, will discuss equipment purchases with the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education at its regularly scheduled business meeting.

The track would fall under Salisbury High’s STEM Academy, and would allow students to specialize in engineering, machining or mechatronics. Students choosing to specialize in advanced manufacturing would start working their way towards being industry certified while still in high school. The track is similar to other programs in Cabarrus and Cumberland counties.

Launching the program would cost approximately $1.1 million, including facility upgrades, equipment purchases and industry training for teachers. According to the board’s agenda, the program is applying for a Golden Leaf Grant, which would cover about $700,000 of the estimated costs.

CTE staff are requesting the board approve the remaining $432,500 be funded out of the school system’s budget. The funds would go towards the 25 percent contribution required by the Golden Leaf Grant.

The agenda notes that the equipment suggested for purchase is aligned with that of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, to ensure a smooth transition between programs.

The board will meet Monday in the Wallace Educational Forum board room, 500 N. Main St. beginning at 5 p.m. Public comment will be held at 6 p.m.

In other business the board:

• Will discuss fees students must pay to participate in certain activities, as well as fees associated with starting school such as technology user fees, lab materials and locker usage.
• Will discuss the possibility of changing the start time of its business meetings.
• Will hear from members of West Rowan High School’s ProStart team. According to the agenda, in March the team competed in the 2017 N.C. ProStart Invitational at The Chef’s Academy in Morrisville. West Rowan’s management team placed 3rd in the state in their first competition. Each student earned $15,000 in scholarships to various North Carolina culinary schools. The team plans to present its business plan to the board.

Contact reporter Rebecca Rider at 704-797-4264.