Work underway on shop building for new Career Technical Education Charter in Fresno

The Fresno County Board of Education broke ground Friday on a $6.5 million, 10,000-square-foot shop building for the new Career Technical Education Charter high school that opens next year.

“Our community wants a school that will be able to change the lives of students and help our employers in this Valley,” said Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Jim Yovino.

Students will study advanced manufacturing and commercial construction and be ready enter the workforce upon graduation, Yovino said.

“I’m trying to change the word from ‘the C-word — college’ to ‘the C-word — career,’ ” Yovino told more than 100 dignitaries and supporters.

The new school will be a comprehensive high school, meaning students will take four years of English and three years of math, as well as art, foreign language, science, social studies, government and economics. Electives will also be offered.

Under a partnership with Fresno City College, students will earn college credits. In some cases, students can graduate with an associate degree of science.

The shop will be at the Kermit Koontz Education Complex in central Fresno. Designed by SIM Architects in Fresno, it is being funded by state bond money.

The shop will have two classrooms and an 8,000-square-foot outdoor area under a canopy. Students also will use classrooms at an adjacent campus already built.

The new shop will have about $1 million of equipment. The Meyers farming family of the Mendota area made a financial donation to complete the project, Yovino said.

CTEC, as the school will be called, is open to any student in Fresno County or neighboring counties. Applications for enrollment are now being accepted for the first freshman class of 125 students, with 125 students to be added each year.

This story was originally published October 20, 2017 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Work underway on shop building for new Career Technical Education Charter in Fresno."