Union Family and Consumer Sciences Instructor Dawn Stoakes.

Union High School has a rich tradition of offering high quality, varied Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. These courses include Agricultural Education, Business Education, Industrial Technology, and Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS). These classes are only possible with up-to-date facilities to support that learning. The current FCS classroom contains all original (peeling plywood) cabinets, (bright orange) countertops, and plumbing fixtures from 1977 (or before). In addition to daily use by students, the room serves as a hospitality room during athletic and fine arts events, and it hosts many team meals throughout the school year. A complete renovation in the proposed bond issue will provide important benefits to students and the community:

1. Industry-Standard Environment for 21st-Century Employability Skills

An updated classroom can simulate workplace environments, preparing students for future careers. Whether in food services or business management, a modern facility provides hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment, giving students a competitive edge in the workforce. Increased workspace allows students to work more efficiently and collaboratively while also ensuring safety in a busy classroom setting. A redesign will also allow teachers to better monitor students’ work, ensuring both safety and effective instruction.

2. ADA Compliance

Ensuring that the classroom is ADA-compliant is critical. This allows students of all abilities to fully participate in activities, ensuring equal opportunities for learning. It also aligns the classroom with legal requirements, promoting inclusivity.

3. Improved Ventilation

Current ventilation is not up to code. Proper ventilation is a must in any cooking or lab-based environment, to help control heat, odors, and humidity, creating a healthier and more comfortable learning space.

4. Opportunity to Start a Student-Run Business with Improved Food Safety and Sanitation

With new facilities, it becomes easier to teach and maintain high standards of food safety and sanitation, instilling lifelong habits that promote health and well-being. A well-designed and functional space opens the door to entrepreneurial projects like a student-run café or freezer meal business, providing students with real-world experience in business management, customer service, and food preparation, all while fostering collaboration and creativity.

5. Lifelong Skills Development Supporting Life-Long Learning

While many academic subjects are geared toward college readiness, Family and Consumer Sciences prepare students to manage the essential elements of daily life. Learning how to prepare food, manage finances, and enhance family life are skills students will use for the rest of their lives, regardless of their career paths.

By updating the Family and Consumer Sciences classroom, we will create a dynamic, safe, and practical learning environment that equips students with the skills needed for both personal and professional success and helps to sustain our communities with long-term growth and vitality.

Dawn Stoakes is the Family and Consumer Sciences Instructor at Union Middle School and Union High School and a resident of Dysart.