District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, is authoring a bill for the second straight year to provide state aid for students who take vocational classes outside school hours.

The bill sets up a grant program for vocational education in welding, electrical and construction trades.

Bennett noted schools can already offer education in those trades but are not compensated for doing so. She said she was alerted to the need by Fairmont Area Schools Superintendent Joe Brown.

Bennett spoke highly of the success of the program in Fairmont.

“It’s a wonderful program, and it allows much more flexibility for students’ schedules,” she said.

Bennett noted she hopes the bill passes this year.

“It has not gotten a hearing yet, but it could be still,” she said.

“It’s hard to say, and it costs money. And right now, there’s so many things competing.”

Bennett, who introduced the legislation in the House Education Innovation Policy Committee and Education Finance Committee when first unveiling the bill, said it helps address local workforce needs.

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

Brown noted Fairmont now has 20 welding booths, and 12 adults and eight students take the class from Fairmont, Blue Earth and Martin Luther school districts.

The program is in its third year in Fairmont and offers Saturday and summer welding classes. Courses include 60 instructional hours.

Brown said secondary schools have reduced the use of vocational education because of increased focus on four-year college, the expense of such programs and difficulties attracting teachers.

He said such courses are important because of the state’s need for thousands of carpenters, welders and other tradespeople. He said vocational students typically consist of top academic achievers who do not have time to take vocational courses or students who are interested in a vocational career but have failed a math class.

Brown noted there is extensive time for such classes to take place in schools.

“I’m very hopeful that this bill will pass this year,” he said.

District 27 Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, called the bill “a very good idea,” adding it would help fill workforce needs in southern Minnesota and allow students to enter the workforce in certain trades.

“That’s a good bill,” he said.