Uncertain Future for Morgan High School’s CTE Program Amid Budget Concerns

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Morgan High School’s Career Technical Education (CTE) program faces an uncertain future as a budget shortfall threatens its funding.

With over 300 seats filled in the Morgan High School auditorium on Monday night, the community came together in defense of the program, which has been a critical part of the district.

At the center of the debate is a $1.5m budget deficit, and with Career Tech programs in other districts already closed to new applicants for the year, students may now face limited options.

The program, which provides pathways to stable careers in fields like cosmetology, automotive tech, engineering, and more is important in a community where college isn’t always an option.

The timing of the discussion was significant, as February is officially Career and Technical Education Month, a month recognized by President Trump just days before the board meeting.

For teachers like Brian Simms and John Nichols, the news came as a surprise. Both were informed they would be losing their jobs.

Simms explained, “The application to get into Mid East—the deadline was January 17th. They informed us on January 30th that we were all fired.”

Nichols added, “We all need to know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for retirement or future jobs—and plus the kids. The kids are hurting right now.”

For students, the potential loss of these programs could mean the end of dreams in fields like video game design and nursing.

Jamie Levingston, a concerned parent shared, “My daughter is in cosmetology as a sophomore and right now, Mid-East, their program is booked out for the next two years. She cannot get into cosmetology if they were to cut it.”

Amid the tension, some in the community urged action.

“You need to be writing your representatives—if you flood their offices with letters, you will get their attention,” one attendee emphasized, stressing the importance of mobilizing the public to save the program.

School districts across the nation face difficult budget decisions, and the Morgan Local School District is no exception. Morgan Local School District Superintendent Dr. Kristin Barker explained that these tough choices arise when funds are limited. She also clarified that funding for the CTE program was not diverted to build the football stadium. Instead, the ESSER (COVID relief) funds were used to construct the stadium, as it is an outdoor space that helps mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Other board members reassured the community that they are working to find a solution.

Vice President Bryon Griffin, a former Career Tech student himself, emphasized his commitment to preserving the program. “I just want to give my word to the community that we’re going to do everything we possibly can to come up with a solution that doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the Career Tech program,” Griffin promised.

For now, the future of the Career Technical Education program remains uncertain. The community continues to hope that the board will find a way to secure its future before it’s too late.