are trained on manual trucks and prepared for immediate employment.“These kids actually do have job opportunities right away,” he adds.“We want our students to be able to find a job, where they can be able to support themselves right out of high school. And I think this is a crucial field for them.” The program is also helping students prepare for long-term advancement. “A lot of the students that I have had in the past have someone already in the industry and they understand the importance of how crucial it is to get this at such a young age,” Cantu says. While the training is completely free for students, the long-term vision involves offering it to local adults and businesses. “They pay for the CDL, the district gets a portion of that, and that way, that helps pay for our students,” DuBose suggests. Plans are also underway to integrate forklift certification, solar panel installation, and even simulation driving labs into expanded CTE facilities. “It’s like layer upon layer to make sure that we maintain our accountability,” remarks Tribett. “But we also have a mantra in place here at Dilley High School, and that is, we want to afford our students the same opportunities as we would our own child. We are grateful to the Dilley ISD School Board for their continued support in approving funding for these programs at no cost to our students. 6 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07
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