continued from page emy in ….

continued from page

emy in the state to combine and serve multiple school districts. “A wise person once said, ‘Talent is evenly distributed – opportunity is not.’ We're in one of those – not strictly a higher education desert, because we've got Georgia Southern [University and] Brewton-Parker [Christian University] – but in the immediate area, there's not a lot of options for our students. So, what SECCA does, and what we do at Southeastern Technical College, is to try to bring some opportunity for the folks that are in our area. And I think, I'm a little biased, but I think we do a great job with that,” Southeastern Technical College President Larry Calhoun remarked.

Calhoun continued, “Prior to this, back in about 2018, the model was one technical college and one school system, which really makes things simple. The four school systems were the first multi-school system career academy. The folks that figured out how to make this work did an amazing job. It’s the process and procedure that they started, we're still in use today. Obviously, if you have smaller, rural school systems, they don't have the resources to have all the programs they would like to have. So, by combining forces, instead of four teachers, you have one teacher. Instead of 10 or 12 students, you have 25, 30, 40 students in a program. So, it's really a great use of taxpayer dollars.”

“Our new motto is the world-class workforce or the best workforce in the country, and it's projects like this that enable that,” he told the audience.

Currently, SECCA offers Army JROTC, Cosmetology, General Automotive Technology, Energy, Healthcare, Teaching as a Profession, and Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the building in which it first began in 2018. As the popularity of the classes and number of programs and pathways offered increased, the building quickly filled, leading to a need for expansion.

In 2023, the state legislature funded $1.3 million for this expansion – which will add two classrooms and a construction lab – as a part of the FY24 budget. Over the past few years, SECCA administrators and board members have worked with architects to develop a plan for the new space, which is currently being constructed.

“This expansion will create additional space for instruction, collaboration, and hands-on training. It reflects our continued commitment to developing a skilled workforce by preparing students with technical knowledge and real-world experience needed for success in high-demand careers,” SECCA CEO Amy Gillies remarked, as she explained that the new construction lab will specialize in electrical work, plumbing, and possibly, masonry.

SECCA Board Chair and Toombs County Development Authority Executive Director Michele Johnson also commented on the project. “For me, this expansion not only represents the long-term growth of SECCA, but our community's commitment to bringing opportunities to our children, and then also to meeting the local workforce needs of our industries, which, of course, is huge to me in my professional position. So I want to thank everyone who's played a part in this, — all the school systems and all the folks who did all the work initially,” she said. “When I'm doing my work with the Development Authority and we're entertaining business and industry, whether it is an expansion or a new recruitment, my job is to sell this community and to tell them how great we are and how we collaborate and work together. All communities do that to some extent. But when they say, prove it, show me, SECCA is a shared treasure that I can show them. When you continued from page

have four school systems and a technical college all working together to figure it out — if there's a need, that is a tool that we can use to meet that need.”

State Senator Blake Tillery added, “It took us this long to get here, but this is only one of just a few exciting things that are already happening out here on this campus. this is because of a seven-figure investment from the state, but the state doesn't make seven-figure investments if the local community is not willing to invest themselves. So thank you for everything you've done to get to this point.”

He emphasized that individuals who worked together during SECCA’s creation are now seeing the “fruits” of that investment, as the Academy continues to grow and supply employable graduates in the area.

“I'm so proud that we have this College and Career Academy here — the first one in the state to combine several school systems. That’s just so forward thinking and such efficient use of resources and time,” State Representative Leesa Hagan remarked. She told the audience about her admiration of SECCA’s ability to bring students from different counties together, as she stated that she noticed while on a tour that the students did not segregate themselves by schools. “In rural communities, where our population density is so much lower than urban and suburban areas, I think that's so important going forward that our young people in this part of the state get to know each other, learn how to work together, and collaborate at an early age. That is something that's unique here and something that I think is so valuable,” she added.

The new expansion is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027, when it will begin hosting classes to continue to prepare students for their next chapter of life.

SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE COLLEGE – Southeastern Technical College President Larry Calhoun discusses the expansion of the Southeastern Early College and Career Academy on behalf of the College.Photo by Makaylee Randolph