Hutchings College and Career Academy to keep all career prep courses

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Hutchings College and Career Academy is getting $4 million to put all of its Career, Technical and Agricultural Education programs in its new building. However, this means money will be taken away from other projects.

“We moved from about six pathways to 10 pathways,” said Dr. Cassandra Washington, the Bibb School District’s CTAE Director.

Banking, construction, and culinary arts are just a few of the career pathways students can choose from at Hutchings College and Career Academy.

“Banking would look just like if you walked into Bank of America. The classroom, the board, and then you would see the lab that looks like Bank of America or Robins Federal Credit Union,” explained Dr. Washington.

Making sure each pathway’s learning space is state of the art can start to add up. That’s why the three million dollars the school received in December 2014 from a state grant isn’t enough.

“Furniture, fixtures, equipment, all the stuff that’s necessary for the complete build out and operation of the building, we’re around the $7 million dollar mark,” explained Jason Daniel, the Executive Director of Capital Programs for the Bibb County School District.

The school board decided to rework the ESPLOST budget and take money away from other projects to give to Hutchings. Heritage and Carter Elementary Schools won’t be getting classroom additions because numbers show enrollment is down.

“If you’re losing students at a school, you don’t start adding classrooms there,” said Daniel.

This decision also takes away the renovation budget for Appling Middle School because the new ESPLSOT project list includes a new building.

“You wouldn’t want to renovate a facility and spend dollars on something that you’re getting ready to replace,” explained Daniel.

These cuts give Hutchings the four million dollars it needs to build the space for all of its CTAE programs in its new building.

“I’m really, really excited. Ready to move to the next phase now to see this building come to life,” said Dr. Washington.

Hutchings was supposed to start this school year in its new building on Anthony Road, but this issue delayed construction. School officials hope to start the spring semester at the new location.

To see all of the CTAE pathways offered at Hutchings click here.