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Franceen Gregovich-Benton, CVIT board President, and Curt Cook Ray Unified School District Superintendent.
A historic step was taken by the Ray Unified School Governing Board on July 29, 2015. The governing board voted unanimously to ask citizens of their school district for approval to join the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT). CVIT is a Joint Technological School District (JTED). The CVIT School Board accepted Ray’s resolution with 5-0 vote to join CVIT in regular board meeting on August 27, 2015.
Registered voters in the Ray Unified School district will be able to decide at the November 2016 election if they want to be part of CVIT. Should voters approve the request of the Ray governing board to join CVIT, there will be a slight increase in property taxes. The exact amount was not available at press time. The process to include Ray Unified School district into the CVIT district could take up to two years due to the election process.
The primary purpose of the JTED is to deliver premier technical education programs in partnership with business, industry and community stakeholders in the region. JTEDs develop a skilled workforce by helping students attain technical and employability skills and preparing them to succeed in postsecondary education and develop job skills that can be used right after high school.
The CVIT district is currently serving students from Globe, Miami, Superior, Hayden- Winkelman and San Carlos, offering career and technical education programs on their five member high schools campuses as well as central programs held on community college campuses. CVIT’s Central Programs are for college credit and lead toward college degrees and industry certifications. Programs are free to high school age students. Medical Assistant, Nursing Assistant, Welding Technology, Cosmetology, Graphic Design and Fire Science are currently provided by Gila Community College in Globe. There is also a Pre- Engineering- Geology program, held in Superior, in partnership with Central Arizona College and Arizona State University.
CVIT is planning to add Robotics and Law Enforcement programs to the offerings in the 2016-2017 school year.
“We work hard on continuous improvement to meet needs of students and industry in the Copper Corridor,” said Pete Guzman, Superintendent of CVIT.
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