MARCH 6 12, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL 39 NEWS Eye, Bradleyville, Branson, Chadwick, Crane, Forsyth, Galena, Hollister, Hurley and Spokane high schools. When o cials began the design phase and budgeting, Hirschi said the project’s cost was estimated at $22 million-$25 million. However, he said inflation and the rising costs of construction boosted the budget to roughly $36 million. While mostly funded by the tax issue, which 75% of voters approved last year, state funding will make up the rest, he said. That encompasses around $1 million in state grants, including $400,000 from the Missouri’s Area Career Center Opportunity grant program the school district received in November. Moler said the district employs 25, including 12 instructors, at the center, which o ers programs for high school juniors and seniors. Students who complete programs receive the state career and technical education certificate, he said. However, they also can earn additional program-specific certifications, such as those for automotive service excellence and certified nursing assistant. “Each program has some type of industry-recognized credential that students can earn that are either necessary or will help them in that career field,” he said, adding most programs also have credit articulation through Ozarks Technical Community College. “These are credits the students can transfer toward an OTC certification if they go on to postsecondary education.” Expecting growth The Table Rock Career Center is being built adjacent to Reeds Spring High School, 20277 State Highway 413. It plans to o er 13 programs for students, as well as evening classes for adults, similar to the current tech center. Moler said adults currently can take welding, fitness, computer and cake decorating classes. School o cials say they want to see that lineup expand once the new facility opens. “Hopefully, this will garner some new interest in our adult programming and education and get more people involved and take advantage of this new great facility we’re going to have,” Moler said, noting the career center expects to add engineering and criminal justice for high school students. The Gibson Tech Center serves roughly 200 students in each morning and afternoon session but has no common gathering space. Instead, whenever an awards ceremony or other celebratory program is held, students and sta must walk next door to a church to use its auditorium, Moler said. “It’ll have a nice big commons area and also a 70-seat lecture hall for whenever we have guest speakers coming in,” he said of the new career center. School o cials expect the center will initially expand to serve up to 500 students but has the capacity to teach as many as 600 students. Hirschi said there also would be room to add to the building. The future for the Gibson Tech Center building remains uncertain, Hirschi said. “We have some parties interested in purchasing the building,” he said, declining to identify them. “We’re still trying to decide if we’re going to keep the building to repurpose it or sell it.” • School: Reeds Spring plans to add programs at Table Rock Career Center Continued from page 7 Prepare for it at Evangel University. FULLY ONLINE Advance your career: •Flexible online degrees • Accessible and affordable •Associates to doctoral level • Certificates for professional development • Multiple start dates evangel.edu/online 417.268.1000 Brian Moler: Five programs have a waiting list due to reaching capacity. Automotive technology courses will have space for vehicle service bays. 80K Square footage of planned Table Rock Career Center provided by REEDS SPRING SCHOOL DISTRICT
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