Construction is set to begin in October before the center opens in 2026 with 16 total programs, including five new ones.
Based on plans for the facility, the interior will include new areas and opportunities for students to gain experience by working in their potential career path through the Toni & Guy Academy or the on-site bank.
“The center will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, making connections between students, educators and industry leaders,” Superintendent Theresa Williams said in an email.
The breakdown
Construction on the Career and Technical Education Center will cost over $76.7 million and is financed through Plano ISD’s 2022 bond.
“This new facility will provide state-of-the-art resources to support both new and expanded CTE programs, reflecting our commitment to equipping students with the skills needed to thrive in high-demand industries,” Williams said.
Williams added that it will allow the district to more efficiently utilize spaces for career and technical education, including expanding current offerings, to meet the needs of all students as part of the district’s Plano for Your Future initiative.
“This will enable us to offer a broader range of courses and ensure that all students have access to high-quality CTE education, regardless of their campus,” Williams said.
Karen Buechman, PISD’s director of Career and Technical Education said students will be able to take building maintenance, construction technology, cybersecurity, radiology and robotics courses once the new facility opens.
“We’re preparing kids to enter that workforce ... and really shine through that application and interview process,” Buechman said.
Additionally, more spaces for students to take CTE courses opens up more funding opportunities. According to the Texas Education Agency, districts can receive between 10% and 47% more in funding for students enrolled in career and technical education courses, based on an average daily attendance allotment of $6,160.
- $6,776 for students enrolled in non-state sponsored career and technical education courses
- $7,884.80 for students enrolled in Level 1 or Level 2 career and technical education courses
- $9,055.20 for students enrolled in Level 3 or Level 4 career and technical education courses
Why it matters
For the first time, the district will have a centralized career and technical education center, compared to having students meet at different campuses based on which courses they are enrolled in. Buechman said staff toured several other school districts’ career and technical education centers to get a feel for what was needed.
“We want to make sure that we’re removing barriers for kids, and we’re able to serve the students who are interested in those areas to connect them to college or a career right after they leave us,” Buechman said.
With the new facilities, the district will be able to host more specialized classes and provide more space to programs, which could lead to higher enrollment, Buechman added.
The impact
Buechman said students will have the opportunity to gain experiences through work-based learning.
“Work-based learning just takes learning to the next level by the real world experiences that the students can have,” Buechman added.
Steven Pilat, the culinary instructor at Plano East Senior High School, said the new facility will allow students wanting to focus on pastries in the culinary program to have a dedicated space and teach, which is not the case in the current setup.
“I’m not big and proficient in pastries, but we do them,” Pilat said. “Having a pastry instructor that just is designated for that is going to help out the [students].
The new space will also have separate spaces for students to sell items at the in-house restaurant, which has a seating capacity of 200, an in-house event center or the district store planned within the new facility.
“They can all work together to serve some of our partners or the community with needs in a variety of areas,” Buechman said.
The district’s career and technical education programs are part of a larger trend in preparing students for the future by equipping them with necessary knowledge and skills, Williams added.
“This comprehensive approach aligns perfectly with our district’s goal of preparing students not just for college or careers, but for fulfilling successful lives,” Williams said.
What’s next?
The new building is expected to open ahead of the 2026-27 school year. There will be the option to further expand the new building, said Konrad Judd, Huckabee Architects Chief Design Officer.
Unlike current programs that are spread across the district, the new center will offer a centralized location that will reduce the commute for students, Buechman said.
“Having a centralized location allows us to serve students from across the district, whether it’s the east side, central or west side [of Plano],” Buechman said.
