On Wednesday, August 23rd, Commissioner Director Zach Rich and Commissioner Susan Soloway, along with Senator Andrew Zwicker, Assemblyman Roy Freiman, Superintendent of Hunterdon County Vocational School District, Todd Bonsall, municipal officials, and members of the Hunterdon County Polytech BOE attended a ‘Thank You’ ceremony, held at the Polytech Careers Café, in recognition of securing $3 million in additional funding for the construction of Hunterdon County’s first, all-day vocational training school. The new Polytech facility will be located on the North Hunterdon Regional High School campus, in Clinton Township.
The recently passed New Jersey State Budget contained a line item allocating the additional funding, to address the increase in costs related to the project due to inflation in construction costs. Members of the County Commissioners Board were joined by local Legislators, municipal officials, and members of the Polytech School Board for the event.
Commissioner Director Rich shared, “Today, we are gathered to say “thank you” to our leaders in Trenton who have been steadfast in their commitment to help advance the Career and Technical education in Hunterdon County. From helping to secure the initial funding, to the additional funding contained in the recently passed FY24 State Budget, we are grateful for your collective efforts to expand educational opportunities for Hunterdon students. This is a win for our students, our local economy, and the long-term economic vitality of our area.”
The U.S. Department of Education notes that some 12.3 million students are currently participating in what are now called career and technology education, or CTE, pathways. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is an educational option that provides learners the opportunity to earn industry-valued credentials, college credit, and workplace experiences incorporating a rigorous core curriculum coupled with a high-level technical curriculum.
Commissioner Director Rich concluded, “I am extremely grateful to my colleagues, county staff, the administration and Board of Education at Polytech, leaders in our local building trades, and our state legislators, specifically Senator Andrew Zwicker, for working collaboratively to make this project a reality. My colleagues and I believe in the mission and promise of vocation education and together, with your help, we are laying the foundation for a strong future for our country.”