All are invited to a community forum next week to learn more about plans to build a new campus for Central Vermont Career Technical Education (CTE) Center. The forum takes place May 27 at Harwood from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
The Central Vermont Career Center, which provides technical and vocation education for 18 Central Vermont towns, including those in the Harwood Unified Union School District, is working on plans to bring a bond vote before voters this November that will allow the construction of a new, expanded facility.
The facility is currently located in a 44,000-square-foot wing of Spaulding High School in Barre and annually has more applicants than space available for students. CVCC has secured an option on a 27-acre property in Graniteville and is working with architects on plans for a new 100,000-square-foot building.
“The Central Vermont Career Center board and facilities committee are hosting forums around the region, in our sending towns, to share where we’re at and get feedback from people,” said CVCC superintendent Jody Emerson.
At next week’s forum, people will get an update on the progress and process of planning the new facility on the Graniteville parcel as well as the potential November bond vote. Project architects expect to have cost estimates by next month.
The need for more space to accommodate more students in the CTE is evidenced by enrollment data. Last year, 424 students from six sending high schools applied to attend the regional center, which could only accommodate 220 of them. This year, 334 students have applied to attend the center next year, and 176 have been accepted. There will be two more rounds of applications.
According to the CVCC website, “the ability to serve all eligible students in our region and to provide programming that fulfills the needs of students, employers and the community are key points in the CVCC board goals.
Per the website, “By 2028 CVCC will have a state-of-the-art facility that serves all eligible students in our region, staffed and resourced appropriately. We will realize an increased enrollment versus applicant percentage as well as altered and added programming from previous years.”
What that means specifically is:
- Expanded capacity for increased enrollment versus applicant percentage;
- Increased academic achievement through full-day programming in a full-school-day schedule;
- Pathways to advanced career credentials;
- Strengthening partnerships with middle schools across the region to improve student access.
