Overview of Lex La-Ray Technical Center

The attached document is an excerpt from a Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) report or directory on approved career and technical education programs at Lex La-Ray Technical Center in Lexington, Missouri. It details the center’s administrative information, affiliated school districts, support services, and approved programs, focusing on secondary career education offerings that are also open to adults.

Key elements include:

• Contact and Location: Director Mrs. Amy Himbury (email: ahimbury@lexington.k12.mo.us; note: current materials use lexr5.org domain), address at 2323 High School Drive, Lexington, MO 64067-1525, phone (660) 259-2264.
• Sending School Districts and Support Services: The center serves districts in Carroll, Lafayette, and Ray counties (e.g., Norborne R-VIII, Concordia R-II, Lexington R-V, Richmond R-XVI). Assigned services include guidance/placement, counseling for single parents/displaced homemakers and sex equity, and student financial assistance.
• Secondary Career Education Programs: Approved programs are listed on the DESE website (dese.mo.gov link provided). The document highlights programs open to both secondary students and adults.
• Programs with Adult Enrollment (1- or 2-Year Certificates): Classified under “08-10 STS” (secondary technical programs), these include:
  • Child Care Provider/Assistant (CIP 19.0708)
  • Culinary Arts/Chef Training (CIP 12.0503)
  • Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0603)
  • Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0604)
  • Carpentry/Carpenter (CIP 46.0201)
  • Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0104)
  • Welding Technology/Welder (CIP 48.0508)
• Adult-Focused Programs: Longer (500+ contact hour) adult career education programs are referenced, with details starting on page 62 of the full document (not included here).

The center emphasizes practical, hands-on career training for high school students from sending districts, with select programs extended to adults for certificate attainment.

Highlight: Carpentry Program

The document lists Carpentry/Carpenter (CIP code 46.0201) as a core secondary technical program (08-10 STS). It is available to high school juniors and seniors, and uniquely open to adult enrollment, allowing adults to earn a 1- or 2-year certificate. This makes it a dual-enrollment offering focused on building trade skills for entry-level employment or further training.

Current school information (from the official website) aligns this with the modern Building Trades program, which encompasses carpentry as its primary focus (“Building Trades and Carpentry make up one of the largest skill crafts in the building industry”). It is a 2-year program (up to 4 credits per year) involving real-world projects, such as constructing a full residential home or commercial building.

Key details of the current Building Trades (Carpentry) program:

• Program Structure: Designed for students interested in construction; hands-on instruction with specialized training.
• Skills and Course Content:
  • Carpentry blueprint reading
  • Site preparation and concrete foundations/finishing
  • Building codes
  • Rough framing, insulation, and finishing
  • Drywall application, cabinet making, finish trim
  • Painting, ceramic tile installation
  • Basic plumbing and electrical wiring
  • Bricklaying
• Certifications and Pathways:
  • Nationally certified by the Associated General Contractors (AGC).
  • Apprenticeship opportunities through the Construction Apprenticeship Tech Prep Program (eligible students start as journeymen at ~55% wage + benefits, requiring good GPA, attendance, skills mastery, and drug-free status).
  • Articulated credit at State Fair Community College (for completers with B average).
  • Carpentry certificate provides advanced military rank/pay.
• Employment Opportunities (based on 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics data):
  • Carpenters: ~$49,250 median
  • Construction Managers: ~$97,180
  • Plumbers/Pipefitters: ~$56,330
  • Cement Masons: ~$47,710
• Student Considerations: Suited for those who can follow directions, work outdoors, problem-solve, use tools/hands effectively, and collaborate.

Does the Carpentry Program Use the NCCER Curriculum?

No. The attached document does not mention any specific curriculum. Current program descriptions and school materials make no reference to the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum or certifications. Instead, the program is explicitly nationally certified through the Associated General Contractors (AGC), with training aligned to industry standards for carpentry and building trades but no evidence of NCCER adoption.