At the start of the 2023-2024 school year, a new class was added to Bonita Vista Highs (BVH) course roster. The Career Technical Education (CTE) class, also known as the Pilot Program, provides students an in-depth experience of film-making and video production in practical and real world settings. The BVH CTE department received a significant amount of funding to invest in new equipment and allow a new sense of professionalism. The CTE class is a new program in the Sweetwater Union High School District that utilizes the software Unreal Engine to update students on the newest technology in the production industry.
The funding that has been newly instated is directed towards purchasing students updated equipment and investing in updated programs within the film business. The film industry is making a shift to which current technologies will become obsolete and the CTE department will have the ability to organize a set curriculum.
“There are plans to create a new building for not only me, but all BVH CTE classes. We got support to buy equipment that is up to date. We have been doing a lot of research, customizing a lot of the studios and we have top of the line items. They’re not the best compared to what is used in our industry, but they’re very good quality for what is traditionally used in a high school setting,” Multimedia and CTE teacher Hugo Martinez said.
In order to finalize building plans and bring in more equipment, CTE provided BVH its funding and gained approval from the Board of Education. Following the approval, BVH began its designing process for a new building.
“We face challenges everyday, that’s the nature of what we do. But at the same time we develop and have the opportunity to find solutions. With that, that’s a skill that we need to develop if we want to succeed in this new first hybrid world. Technology advances by the second, and we need to keep ourselves updated,” Martinez said.
The CTE program and Martinez have continued efforts to keep up with current technology and styles of production in order to prepare students who wish to continue production in the future. The funding the program received allows staff to do this and better educate students in the process.
“The CTE program is very cool, because it gives students the opportunity to work with equipment from the actual film industry. We were limited by equipment before the funding,” BVTV Producer and Equipment Manager and senior Uriel Lopez said.
The new CTE program allows for the world of visual production to expand at BVH. Furthermore, it creates new opportunities for students and allows for improvement and understanding with new equipment.
“I am really appreciative of the funding. I’m glad that I have the opportunity to use equipment I will use in college and later in life. I don’t think I would have had this opportunity if it wasn’t for the CTE funding. It really did change the way I’m learning,” Lopez said.
