Superintendent wants vo-tech programs on central campus

COLUMBUS — Lowndes County Schools Superintendent Lynn Wright wants to locate all vocational-technical programs on a central campus.

The Commercial Dispatch reports Wright told the board of supervisors this week that Lowndes County is one of a few school districts that do not have a centralized vocational center.

“We have put some plans together to look at doing this. The dropout rate in the county is unacceptable. We have dropouts and students that graduate from high school that do not have employable job skills. We are losing these kids and we need to help keep them and teach them job skills,” Wright said.

Wright said the project will cost about $15 million and could take up to two years to complete.

Wright said there are several potential locations, including the old Lee High School.

The old school is a 96,350-square-foot-building situated on 14.4 acres. It was closed when Lee High merged with Caldwell High.

“Our attorney is looking at this to see if we could do it inside the city’s school district,” Wright said. “We have also explored the idea of having a consolidated career and technology center with the city schools. We are looking at every option right now.”

Wright said all three county schools are offering different programs that should be available to all students.

New Hope High School offers robotics and engineering, a co-op marketing class and automobile mechanics. Caledonia High School offers carpentry and health services, a pre-nursing program. Students at West Lowndes High School are offered business fundamentals and masonry.

Officials said a centralized location could offer 14 to 16 programs.