At the Minot Area Workforce Academy’s Governing Board Meeting on July 7th, 2025, the Director, Ms. Pam Stroklund, shared recent updates regarding approved new, expanding, and transferring programs. To provide some history, Minot Public Schools has had Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for over 50 years. Aviation and Biomedical started nine years ago and CDL started two years ago; however, now offering them through the Minot Area Workforce Academy opens up the opportunity for neighboring school students to participate! In fact, MPS has an on-going annual agreement with Sawyer and Minot Air Force Base to operate. Soon to join – Kenmare.
Benefitting from this agreement, 235 Minot AFB students in 9th-12th grade participated in the last academic year! Sawyer Public School, a small neighboring school with only 26 students in 9th-12th grade, has a whopping 12 of these students enrolled in August 2025! Our military-connected students and surrounding school students utilize the Minot Area Workforce Academy, and its new course offerings may stimulate additional interest from rural students where attendance was once cost-prohibitive:
- What courses were approved and are now being offered?
Ms. Stroklund shares, “The Minot Area Workforce Academy is an approved area career and technology center presently providing area high school students coursework in auto technology, auto collision and repair, early childhood education, and commercial drivers license. New programs approved by the ND CTE (Career & Technical Education) Board to be offered through the area center are aviation, building trades, teaching pathway, medical careers and biomedical science.”
2. Why did you recommend these courses to submit for approval and how does the process work to add new courses?
Ms. Stroklund explains the process from inception to final course offerings, “The additional programs were recommended for approval based on in-demand occupations and course offerings not being taught in outlying school districts.” Additionally, “Any new, expanding, or transferring [courses] from local school districts into the area center programs need to be approved through the ND CTE Board.”
3. What are the lower fees offered?
Ms. Stroklund shares, “Presently, area center member school districts pay a membership fee plus cost share the entire expenses for the area center. HB1188 changed ND Century Code this past legislative session to allow area centers more flexibility in assessing area members. For the 2025-2026 school year, membership fees have dropped to $1000 for school districts with 9-12 enrollment under 250 students, $2000 for school districts with enrollment between 250 & 750, and $3000 for school districts with enrollment over 750 students. Member schools will pay the membership fee plus a participation fee for the classes their students are enrolled.”
4. What are your hopes for the academy’s future?
Ms. Stroklund, eager to continue to grow, optimistically aspires to even more choice: “To further expand course offering not available to students in outlying school districts.” In addition, Ms. Stroklund is hopeful for a welding course or two in the future – maybe next year!
For further information or to register, please contact Ms. Stroklund at 701-857-4458.
The information in this article is provided as a resource and does not constitute endorsement by Minot AFB, the United States Air Force, or the Department of Defense of the external website, or the information, products, or services contained therein.
