LCSD Announce new Career & Technical Education Center

The Lauderdale School District has announced its plans to open up the first ever centralized Career & Technical Education Center. The center will expand offerings by the District, including Training in Transportation Logistics to Energy Academy. We learn more from the CTE Director of the Lauderdale School District.

"Well, if you look at the data that's out there, we're doing a really good job preparing students to go to high-skill, high-wage jobs, which is what you would consider Bachelor's Degrees and Master's Degrees. But we're not doing a good job in promoting the skill trade areas. So what's happening is students are leaving High School and going into low-skill, low-wage jobs and not being prepared for that middle-skill, high-wage jobs. So that's what we're trying to do to correct that problem," said Rob Smith.

Smith said the new center will allow the district to expand its CTE Instruction and that this is an effort to make sure everyone in Lauderdale County has opportunities in Workforce Training.

"We're talking about a machinist that comes through our program and can potentially go out into the workforce making $75 to $100000 in two years out of high school," stated Smith.

Business owner Charles Fraizer shares his opinion on the importance of students receiving CTE training and what businesses are looking for.

"I think a lot of people are on track towards a College Degree and I think that those Technical Degrees and training are a vital part. I think especially with the tuition, it's very important that we explore other options like Career and Technical Institute that can offer something that we need in this town," said Fraizer.

The center will be located in the former Peavey service warranty building with a goal of opening in 2024, the more than $8 million project is receiving support from the State of Mississippi.