Legislation introduced last Thursday by District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett would provide state aid for students who take vocational classes outside school hours.

Bennett, who introduced the legislation in the House Education Innovation Policy Committee and Education Finance Committee, said it is meant to increase vocational training to help students gain skills and knowledge to fill in-demand work in vocational trades and skilled labor. She said she was contacted by Fairmont Area Schools Superintendent Joe Brown, who asked her to consider the legislation. Fairmont offers a welding class on Saturday mornings for students.

“My bill allows students to take vocational classes outside of school hours similar to how Fairmont is seeing success offering a welding class on Saturdays,” Bennett said. “I want to thank all my testifiers who showed how the state should allow these type of classes to be funded even if they are outside of normal school hours.”

Brown, Fairmont Vocational Principal Andrew Traetow, welding teacher Bob Bonin and students Adam Carstensen and Anna Nordquist testified in favor of the bill Thursday at the Capitol.

“Many students prefer to learn and work with their hands, and we should have classes and coursework where they can learn an in-demand skill that will help them after graduation,” Bennett said.

She recently toured Fairmont’s vocational education classrooms, including carpentry, food preparation, welding and electrical areas.

Bennett said districts could collaborate to offer vocational courses, and the students could be taken to other districts more easily if the courses are offered outside school hours.

The bill could be considered in a final omnibus bill. Bennett said she would support having the project implemented as a pilot if necessary, calling it a “good way to get going.”

She spoke highly of Fairmont’s approach to the issue, calling it “innovative” and “flexible.” She said other districts should enact similar approaches and called Fairmont’s class an example of how districts should operate, centering around the needs of the students.

“I’m excited about it,” Bennett said. “I think it’s a great idea.”

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, said he supports the legislation, adding it “makes all of the sense in the world” by trying to fill the area’s workforce shortage.