Jackson County Schools nearing completion of a new vocational complex on the high school campus to provide students with direct access to trade certifications.
Director of Schools Jason Hardy said the project is still on track for its August 3 deadline. Hardy said the trade programs are highly popular, as students explore to find their calling, whether its in skilled trade, or elsewhere.
“We’re hoping to have it up and running by August so we are waiting probably within a week or two weeks to complete the all the construction progress,” Hardy said. “We had one of our final walk-throughs the other day with the contractor. So just cleaning up a few small details and we hope to get it furnished and have it running by August 3rd when we begin our our next school year.”
Hardy said the district currently relies on partnerships with TCAT. Without their own building, Hardy said it required students to be bused to other locations. Hardy said the new facility will eliminate travel time and allow students to spend more hours in the classroom and shop environments.
“That will increase the likelihood of them going on and finishing the program, because the ultimate goal of Jackson County High School and Jackson County schools in general is to give our students an opportunity to be successful in life after school,” Hardy said.
Hardy said the new building features four classrooms designed with integrated shop spaces to accommodate hands-on learning. Hardy said the facility was built with optionality in mind to ensure the district can adapt its vocational offerings to match the expanding workforce demands of a growing region.
“We’ll continue to grow these and we built this in mind that we know that the landscape, the workforce, the outlook over the years will constantly be changing,” Hardy said. “So we wanted to have things that are flexible, so if things change in the future, that we’re not just committed to one trade or whatever.”
Hardy said the initial programs housed in the facility will include HVAC, cosmetology, and business marketing with an emphasis on entrepreneurship. Hardy said the district is also expanding its animal science and pre-vet program with plans to establish a small farm behind the trade center.
“They could take a class each year and could possibly even have enough credits by the time they graduate to be fully certified in one of these subjects or some future subjects where they leave high school prepared to go in the workforce with a certificate,” Hardy said. “It saves them a year or maybe even two years of college.”
Hardy said the expansion addresses a growing shortage of skilled workers in Middle Tennessee, specifically in fields like electrical work and plumbing. Hardy said providing early exposure to these industries allows students to better compete in the job market and secure stable careers.
“We just are glad that we’re going to have opportunities available for students,” Hardy said. “That’s the goal. You know, we don’t push students in any direction, whether they want to go to a four-year college, a two-year college, or trade school, or armed forces. We don’t push them that way, we just want to have opportunities available for them.”
Hardy said the construction process is in its final stages following a recent walk-through with the contractor. Hardy said the district expects to have the building furnished and fully operational by August 3 to coincide with the start of the new school year.
