MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — The Monroe County School District says they have something big coming in fall 2024.
They received a $3.1 million grant from the Technical College System of Georgia to build a new college and career academy.
They say the grant will help save them a little money that they planned to use from ESPLOST funds.
Superintendent Mike Hickman says they've been working on the project since 2014.
"We're just excited to get started and provide these opportunities for our children," says Hickman.
The district will be partnering with Central Georgia Technical College and Gordon State College.
They are also partnering with Crawford County Schools. Hickman says their students will be able to bus to the academy.
Students will gain skills in three major career pathways, manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare. They'll also offer a minor pathway in communications.
"Based on the data that's out there, and the jobs that are available, that's where people are going to be going to work. Not just in Monroe County, but in the Middle Georgia area," says Hickman.
He says this is especially important because they want students to be able to stay here, work here, pay taxes here, and thrive here.
The academy will be built in connection to their new freshman annex. It will be housed on the land between the fine arts center and the main high school campus.
"Our kids can walk back and forth between the main campus and the college and career academy and the annex without having to be bused," says Hickman.
It will also benefit some of their local partners. Lorraine Smith is the CEO of the Monroe County Hospital, she says this will help them.
"I don't think it's any surprise what's going on in healthcare these last couple years. With the pandemic, and the nursing shortages and other healthcare shortages, just being able to partner with the schools to solve for that problem specifically is really exciting," she says.
She says students would have entry level opportunities at the hospital.
"Certified nursing assistant, we could also do a patient access representative, those that register patient's insurance and get them in the door. We also have patient secretaries," she says.
Smith adds that this program is so great because it allows students to help people in their own community.
Smith adds that she sees this in her longtime employees, "They feel a sense of pride working here at Monroe County Hospital working in their community seeing their friends and family members out and about."
Plus she says in the healthcare profession, students would have the opportunity to quickly climb the ladder.
Hickman says this program will also be a way for them to keep up with the growing community.
The MPower Academy will be open to the community as well.
The district plans to hold literacy classes in the evenings, dual-enrollment programs, and GED classes.