We are very excited to share our current WBL activities taking place this year in several of our IPS high schools! Please check out our WBL Quarterly Chat Fall Newsletter to see the great work IPS schools are doing to connect students to high- wage, high-demand jobs in their pathways!

After a school year that challenged both students and teachers with virtual and blended learning, more than 100 Merrillville High School students requested welding classes during the 2021-22 school year, nearly double that of previous years for the school’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program. Students were ready to get back to hands-on learning, and the recently completed classroom renovation is now primed to accommodate the increasing number of students. The $79,000 construction project took place over the last several months, adding student workstations, improvements to shop ventilation, electrical, five new multi-function machines and fume extractors. A Perkins Grant along with funding awarded by the Hobart Redevelopment Commission covered approximately $45,000 worth of equipment upgrades. “As a district, we are committed to improving the welding lab for the students,” said Bob Phelps, director of technology and CTE. “We increased our capacity to serve our students by removing outdated equipment and adding five more welding bays with new multi-process welders. The students now train in a cleaner, safer lab that meets our post-secondary and industry partners’ expectations.” Historically, the introductory class of 12 students required them to take turns welding, but that process made it difficult to satisfy the hands-on requirements...