OLDS - The Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI) partnership is progressing nicely with the recent hiring of its first-ever director to lead programming, says Kathleen Finnigan, superintendent of Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS).
Involving Olds College, Red Deer Polytechnic, Chinook’s Edge School Division, Red Deer Public School, Wolf Creek School Division, CAREERS: The Next Generation (a non-profit foundation), and RDCRS, the project has hired Jackie Taylor to lead program as director of the CACI.
The institute aims to help high school students transitioning to post-secondary education and career placement. It is receiving $8.7 million in provincial funding in 2023-24.
“This (director) role will report directly to the established CACI steering committee made up of a senior leader from each partner organization,” Finnigan told the RDCRS board during a recent meeting. “This powerful partnership will support the coordination and management of student learning experience scheduled to start this spring.
“Students who participate in CACI programming will remain in their home high schools but will also have access to training at Olds College and Red Deer Polytechnic and work placements across Central Alberta.”
CACI partner schools have already been providing career learning for student through other dual-credit learning opportunities, she noted in her monthly report to trustees.
“The collegiate model builds on current dual-credit and off-campus programs that allows high school students to earn credits toward post-secondary qualifications and apprenticeships,” she said.
“CACI programming will enhance current division-based, dual credit programming and provide a multi-year journey when necessary to support optimum student learning.”
Through initial placement, students in CACI will “start developing skills that will successfully launch them into a skilled trades career following high school completion,” she said.
Murray Hollman, RDCRS chairman, called the CACI project a great opportunity for students across the region.
“Any time we can tap into different areas and especially work with others in the community to get more education and better things for our students, the better off we all are,” Hollman told the Albertan.
CESD superintendent Kurt Sacher said, “This is a collaborative partnership of school division and post-secondaries, which has been forging strong links between high school students and their career connections for over a decade.
“When high school students share a deeper experience with a career pathway, they are more likely to follow it through to graduation and employment. A focus on strong career transition is a priority for all of the school divisions involved.”
The 10,600-student RDCRS division is headquartered in Red Deer; the 11,000-student CESD in Innisfail.