The Prairie du Chien School District looks much different than a year ago: B.A. Kennedy Elementary closed this past summer, Bluff View Intermediate hosts the elementary students and the high school now has a revamped Career and Technical Education (CTE) area for middle and high school students.

The renovation project was completed by Heart of America (HOA), a nonprofit organization that works to "close resource gaps" in schools and community areas, in collaboration with 3M. Since 1997, HOA has renovated close to 1,600 classrooms, STEAM labs, gyms and other learning spaces. The organization claims to have impacted more than 2.5 million students. The D.C.-based organization has completed projects from coast to coast across the country and everywhere in between. Projects have included remodeled CTE centers, augmented/virtual reality labs and libraries.

According to Stacey Claessens, of 3M Communication Impact, 3M began working with Heart of America in 2024 with the goal of transforming career and technical education spaces in public schools. “Heart of America brings expertise in designing and renovating learning environments, while 3M brings investment, industry perspective and employee engagement. Together, we are creating Future Makers Labs that give students hands-on exposure to engineering, robotics, mechatronics and other technical skills.”

She added that 3M sees the value in developing better pipelines for skilled trades, saying the domestic manufacturing is projected to need an additional four million workers over the next seven years, and nearly two million of those may not be filled if workforce challenges aren't addressed.

The project reportedly cost more than $350,000. Andy Banasik, Prairie du Chien Schools’ district administrator, said the school did not have to pay anything for the renovation. “They do the plans, they do the blueprints and they do the architect work, which is fabulous. And that’s how they donate and support schools.”

Banasik said the process began this past June when representatives from 3M and HOA visited the district to evaluate the possibility of putting in a Future Makers Lab.

“We didn’t know what this was going to be, and they said, ‘We’re here because we’re doing this project — you’ve been selected,’” he said.

Claessens credited the school district for spending years building up the CTE program, which helped attract the attention of 3M. "When 3M and Heart of America visited the district, they saw an opportunity to build on that momentum by modernizing two learning spaces and creating environments that more closely reflect advanced manufacturing workspaces."

She added that Prairie du Chien's status as a local community for 3M was another factor in their selection for the Heart of America. 3M has operated in Prairie du Chien for more than six decades.

The Heart of America began construction work in late September. The school district did some deconstruction work in preparation for the project beforehand.

The project converted Room 103 in the high school into part of the CTE program. The room previously held the Board of Education’s monthly meetings, which are now held in Bluff View, and served as an intervention room. According to Banasik, the project also “cleaned up” the Auto Cad room next to the wood shop. “We talked about some other options, but this was the best space from a funding and a classroom perspective.”

Banasik credited Bluff View Elementary Principal Tomi Gebhard for playing a major role in bringing the CTE Center to Prairie du Chien, saying, “She’s been doing this for four or five years while maintaining being principal... She’s written a lot of grants that we’ve received. We received two of them at $50,000 each with matching donors, so we have $200,000 because of her work. She’s kept her foot on the pedal.”

The school’s CTE programs are already ongoing, with students from all age groups participating in operating drones, exploring automation systems and particiating in a 3M-sponsored Robotics Club.

An Emerging Technology course allows 7th and 8th grade students to collaborate with their 4th grade peers in teamwork exercises using robotic cars. Prairie students also get the opportunity to work with representatives from Southwest Technical College in an introductory mechatronics class. 

The district said it has several assets it uses in these courses, including drones, UAV equipment, industrial robots and 3D printers. They are also seeking to add two more robots, which reportedly cost approximately $130,000 each. According to the school district, funding for the program’s equipment and supplies has come from Wisconsin Fast Forward Grants as well as industry partnerships with educational institutions (Southwest Tech), businesses (Ashley Education Foundation, Wolf Machinery) and community members and organizations (the Forsythe Family and Scenic Bluffs Health Centers).

“With what 3M is doing, we don’t have to purchase anything we have out here. It’s just going to be a better space for teaching,” said Banasik.

The CTE program also encompasses work with Southwest Tech’s mobile welding lab, which is hosted at 3M in Prairie du Chien.

The program is expected to grow and continue adding new opportunities for students, such as robotic welding training and the ability for students to earn their welding certification while still in school. In the future, the school’s goal is “to position Prairie du Chien as a regional hub for career and technical education, providing training access for students across districts, workforce development and up-skilling opportunities and community and industry workshops.”

On Thursday, Oct. 15, the school district and 3M hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the CTE Center that included members from the community and local politicians, such as U.S. Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.) and Assemblyman Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City).

“Investments like this help prepare our kids for good-paying careers, support our local employers, and keep Wisconsin’s economy growing,” said Assemblyman Tranel in a prepared statement. “When we invest in our students and future workforce, we strengthen our communities and help make Wisconsin the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

For more information on Heart of America, visit heartofamerica.org.