Smithville ISD Expands Welding Program With New Classes

By Kristen Meriwether, Publisher

Smithville ISD school board approved three new welding classes for the Career and Technical Education pathway at its meeting on Monday.

The new classes are: 

Practicum in Manufacturing 2: Advanced Gas Tungsten Arc (W451) 

Precision Metal Manufacturing 2: Advanced Pipe Welding-ASME Sect. IX (W453) 

Practicum in Manufacturing + Extended Practicum 3: Welder Qualification (W179)

The welding program at Smithville High School is in partnership with Austin Community College, which provides an instructor. Students receive dual credits, as well as certifications.

The new classes add a third year to the welding program and will help prepare students for their skills award test and an additional level one certificate. This could help graduates get a jump into a career in the trades, a field that is currently booming with opportunities.

Students can begin the pathway with ACC in their sophomore year. Any student can take the basic welding and fabrication classes outside of the ACC pathway.

The new classes are expected to begin next school year, and ACC is expected to add a second instructor to staff the additional classes.

THANK YOU to local company TCS Mechanical for their $20,000 donation to the Smithville High School welding program last month to help equip the shop with the proper tools! The company also provides internships for Smithville High School students in the program. Thank you for being a great community partner!