A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation by Michael Orf, the director of pupil services at Mercer County Technical Schools. Orf detailed the structure and advantages of the shared-time programs, which allow students to split their day between their home high school and MCTS. These programs have been established for over 50 years and offer students practical experience through hands-on learning, co-op or work-based learning opportunities, and the ability to earn industry certifications. Orf emphasized the importance of these programs for students who may not wish to pursue a full-time academy program, noting that the shared-time format supports participation in sports and extracurricular activities at their home schools.

In addition to shared-time programs, the meeting highlighted the full-time academy programs available at MCTS, including Health Science, STEM, and Culinary Arts academies. Each academy is designed to create a focused educational environment for students with similar interests, with enrollment capped at 40 students per grade per academy to maintain a community-oriented atmosphere. The Health Science Academy, operational since 2010, includes electives like anatomy and physiology, while the STEM Academy, established in 2015, offers engineering-focused electives and participation in competitions such as Skills USA. The Culinary Arts Academy provides pathways towards hospitality and culinary arts degrees, requiring students to earn Surf Safe certifications.

The meeting also stressed the importance of communication regarding student applications to MCTS. With significant interest and limited spots available, attendees were reminded of the necessity to inform the administration if they decide not to enroll after acceptance, as failure to do so could prevent another interested student from attending. Applications for shared-time programs are encouraged to be submitted by December 1st to ensure consideration in the primary application wave. Similar urgency was applied to academy programs, with recommendations to apply before the holiday break to participate in testing in January.

Throughout the session, various CTE programs were outlined, including carpentry, computer game programming, diesel technology, HVAC, electrician training, welding technology, automotive mechanics, cosmetology, culinary arts, environmental sustainability, graphic design, and horticulture. These programs enable students to earn both high school and college credits while gaining employment experience, highlighting partnerships with local businesses that facilitate job placements and work-based learning opportunities.

Technical issues were noted during the meeting, affecting the ability of attendees to submit questions. Despite these challenges, the session was recorded for future viewing on the school district’s YouTube page, with a Q&A section open for questions. The importance of the partnership between West Windsor-Plainsboro and MCTS was reiterated, emphasizing the goal of providing students with the best possible high school experience, whether they attend as full-time or shared-time students.

The discussion also covered the logistics of these programs, noting that students are transported to MCTS for half the day, with schedules structured to allow participation in clubs and sports at their home schools. The free transportation provided by home districts to MCTS was emphasized, alongside a commitment to ensuring students meet graduation requirements regardless of their program choices.