The ribbon was officially cut on the new career and technical education center at West Greene High School on Thursday night.
West Greene Principal Dennis Wilds said that the opening of the wing marked a new era of opportunity for students at West Greene.
Dennis Wilds
Construction on the addition to West Greene began in June 2024.
Programs introduced at the school through classrooms and workshops in the new wing include welding, industrial maintenance, automotive maintenance and light repair, cosmetology, physical therapy and medical tech, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems classes, and HVAC classes.
Greene County School System officials say the curriculum has been designed to target career fields where new graduates are in demand.
Automotive maintenance instructor Sam Brouilette said that Tuesday night that the classes offered at the school through the new addition would have a real impact that would benefit the local community.
Sam Brouilette
Ayden Lamons, a West Greene High School student, said that taking electrical classes helped him decide on a career path that he otherwise may not have targeted.
Ayden Lamons
The state-of-the-art facility has been welcoming kids for the past couple months as the finishing touches were put on the addition. A ribbon cutting was held Tuesday for a similar addition at Chuckey-Doak High School.
Construction issues delayed the opening of the additions at both schools, however, Greene County Director of Schools Dr. Chris Malone said Tuesday that working through the frustrating delays and seeing the projects through their completion had been well worth the end result.
At West Greene on Thursday, Malone thanked everyone involved in the project including former Director of Schools David McLain, Assistant Director Dr. Bill Ripley, High School and CTE Supervisor Dr. Cindy Bowman, Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison and the Greene County Commission among several others.
However, Malone extended a special measure of gratitude to the faculty and staff of West Greene High School for being patient as the project was completed, and for working to continue to educate students effectively while construction continued on the new addition.
Those at the ribbon cutting were welcome to tour the addition after the ceremony to the view the new workshops and classrooms.
Each room in the new wing, except for the health science room, includes a classroom and a large attached workshop.
