CAIRO, Ga. — After more than two years of planning, building, and renovating, Cairo High School is able to use their Vocational Center once again.
From the outside, Cairo High School's Vocational Center looks the same, but on the inside, there's state of the art equipment.
"Every room has the newest, latest, and greatest equipment that's been out on the market. We bought brand new welders that are new technology that just came out last October," said Todd Gainous, CEO of College and Career Academy and CTAE Director of Grady County Schools. "In our auto shop, we have top of the line Hunter machinery which is an industry standard in automotive."
Teachers and students alike who use the vocational center are excited that the facility is finally completed, but they're also eager to see the opportunities they'll have.
"Before, we had six little home kitchens, and now we have an industrial kitchen that rivals any in the state," said Whitney Brown, Culinary Arts Teacher at Cairo High School. "Because of that, we are constantly moving, and constantly cleaning or cooking. I mean, it's a constant motion."
Each of the five teachers have a classroom space, a separate office, and a lab for hands-on learning, which for the students is invaluable.
"I've had students come in my doors who've had no clue what they were going to do and now are considering a career in this field," said Brown. "That's what this is all about. That's why this kitchen was built."
And it's why the automotive and welding classes got more learning space and new equipment. It's why the early childhood education students got a pre-K style classroom, and why there's a multi-use ag lab.
"Our school board, our superintendent saw the need to bring this building up into the twenty first century, so that our students have the best opportunities out there," said Gainous.
The hope is to have an open house for the community to see the upgraded facility by the end of the summer.
These upgrades and new equipment were made possible with local "special purpose local option sales tax" dollars funds and state finding.
