BOARD AGENDA ITEM
SUBJECT:
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AR-2025-0554: Discussion of online news article from Boise Dev.
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DEPARTMENT:
Economic Development
SUMMARY:
City staff discovered this news article about Micron, a memory chip company, that is planning a massive expansion in Boise, Idaho. The article discusses that Micron is planning a 15 billion dollar campus expansion in Boise, Idaho adding thousands of new jobs. The Boise School District had partnered with Micron to create a mechatronics degree at the local Dennis Technical Education Center run by the Boise School District. Mechatronics combines electronics and mechanical engineering, which includes hard skills like soldering to train students to work on semiconductors. The curriculum is dedicated to more than a dozen career paths approved by the State of Idaho enabling students to enter a career path. Unfortunately, the mechatronics program is being shuttered due to four straight years of declining enrollment. The main point of the article is that student interest does not match demand even if opportunities exist.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Do we offer Mechatronics? What do our enrollment numbers look like if so?
2. Why do you think student interest does not match demand when opportunities are available?