July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Celebrating an assett (11/28/07)
Celebrating an assett (11/28/07)
By By TRAVIS MINNEAR-
Visitors got a first-hand look at newly remodeled areas of Jay County High School on Tuesday evening.
School officials held a dedication ceremony christening the completion of an $18 million renovation project that began in spring 2006. School board members, faculty and staff spoke with pride about the renovation they say puts JCHS and its students in the driver's seat to be leaders in a competitive, "global economy."â¨
"We understand that our most valued asset is public education," said school board president Bryan Alexander, who credited a "courageous group of board members" that came before him for making the renovation possible.
"I'm very convinced that our best days are before us."
The event focused on showcasing a redesigned vocational department that includes electronics courses with expanded certificate programs and an agriculture curriculum that allows students access to a small animals laboratory and other advanced technology.
Barbara Downing, former school district superintendent, said new features of the high school's state-of-the-art vocational center also will provide adult education opportunities and meeting spaces for county residents.
"This is a community building, too," she said, adding that the "cornerstone" of the entire renovation was replacing the school's aging heating, cooling and ventilation system.
A renovated swimming pool also was unveiled during a group tour in which people freely roamed the vocational section of the school, examining new equipment and chatting with educators from several departments.
Leo Muhlenkamp, a senior at JCHS who hails from the Bryant area, said he is proud of the renovation and career opportunities that are emerging as a result. New space configurations have allowed administrators and students to use space "more efficiently," the fifth-generation farmer added.
Craig Campbell, chair of the school's vocational department, said public feedback about the renovation has been very positive.
When the school was originally built in 1975, it was a top-of-the-line facility, said Tim Poole, a 1977 Jay County High School graduate.
But after a while it began showing signs of age and parts became outdated. With this latest round of improvements, it serves as an exceptional center for learning, he added.
"It's nice to see this brought back to life," Poole said while speaking with art teacher Liz Lawson.
Family and Consumer Science teacher Florine Golden said workspace for her program nearly "doubled" when that portion of the school was reconstructed. It now includes features such as additional kitchen areas, new equipment and Internet access.⨠"We should have done this 10 or 15 years ago," Golden said.
Speakers at the event were quick to thank the community for its support in the high school's extreme makeover. They said that support should pay dividends for years to come.
"The opportunities that are now before the students of Jay County High School are limitless," Campbell said.[[In-content Ad]]
School officials held a dedication ceremony christening the completion of an $18 million renovation project that began in spring 2006. School board members, faculty and staff spoke with pride about the renovation they say puts JCHS and its students in the driver's seat to be leaders in a competitive, "global economy."â¨
"We understand that our most valued asset is public education," said school board president Bryan Alexander, who credited a "courageous group of board members" that came before him for making the renovation possible.
"I'm very convinced that our best days are before us."
The event focused on showcasing a redesigned vocational department that includes electronics courses with expanded certificate programs and an agriculture curriculum that allows students access to a small animals laboratory and other advanced technology.
Barbara Downing, former school district superintendent, said new features of the high school's state-of-the-art vocational center also will provide adult education opportunities and meeting spaces for county residents.
"This is a community building, too," she said, adding that the "cornerstone" of the entire renovation was replacing the school's aging heating, cooling and ventilation system.
A renovated swimming pool also was unveiled during a group tour in which people freely roamed the vocational section of the school, examining new equipment and chatting with educators from several departments.
Leo Muhlenkamp, a senior at JCHS who hails from the Bryant area, said he is proud of the renovation and career opportunities that are emerging as a result. New space configurations have allowed administrators and students to use space "more efficiently," the fifth-generation farmer added.
Craig Campbell, chair of the school's vocational department, said public feedback about the renovation has been very positive.
When the school was originally built in 1975, it was a top-of-the-line facility, said Tim Poole, a 1977 Jay County High School graduate.
But after a while it began showing signs of age and parts became outdated. With this latest round of improvements, it serves as an exceptional center for learning, he added.
"It's nice to see this brought back to life," Poole said while speaking with art teacher Liz Lawson.
Family and Consumer Science teacher Florine Golden said workspace for her program nearly "doubled" when that portion of the school was reconstructed. It now includes features such as additional kitchen areas, new equipment and Internet access.⨠"We should have done this 10 or 15 years ago," Golden said.
Speakers at the event were quick to thank the community for its support in the high school's extreme makeover. They said that support should pay dividends for years to come.
"The opportunities that are now before the students of Jay County High School are limitless," Campbell said.[[In-content Ad]]
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