pipefitting, electrical work, maritime manufacturing, and management. GISD is already adjusting its welding sequence, moving flux-core welding instruction from senior year to junior year to better align with hiring needs. “We want students to graduate with every option available to them—college, workforce, or both,” Edenfield says.“Our job is to give them a foundation that leads to sustainable careers here on the island.” INTERNSHIPS AND HANDS-ON EXPLORATION: GISD is investing heavily in real-world experience as an extension of technical instruction. A new media production internship program places students inside the communications department, where they help with video editing, social media content, graphic design, and storytelling. Students also support athletics coverage at the new football stadium and are gaining experience in live game production for soccer and baseball, with discussions underway to expand to away games. Internships serve as both confirmation and correction. “Our job is to help students find their passion—but also to help them discover when something isn’t the right fit,” Edenfield explains.“If a student says,‘I can’t handle medical procedures,’ we help them pivot to health informatics or another area.” Throughout the district, experiential learning reinforces the idea that career exploration is not a one-time choice but a process of continuous discovery. A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION INVESTMENT IN BALL HIGH SCHOOL In 2022, voters approved the district’s largest bond package in history—$315 million—triggering an ambitious slate of projects centered on a new Ball High School.The existing building, one of the oldest in the region, will be replaced by a state-of-the-art facility opening in January 2026, with the remaining fine arts and athletics components coming online in 2028. The scale of the upgrade is profound. New CTE labs will support every major pathway: a commercial 423 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 GALVESTON ISD
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