MCCTC board looks at school expansion

CANFIELD — Board members at the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center are reviewing conceptual plans for a $16.4 million expansion that will increase capacity in nearly all of the school’s programs and rebuild a wing destroyed by fire in May.

Major expansions will be concentrated in adult education, interactive media and culinary arts, though the addition will benefit nearly every program of study, said Superintendent Roan M. Craig. About half of the 70,000-square-foot addition will be dedicated to reconstruction of the portion of the school consumed in the blaze.

While the damaged wing remains closed, students have been making due in reduced quarters, said Craig. The school’s hospitality program has been holding classes in the teachers’ lunchroom, she said.

“These kids really need more space,” Craig said.

Despite the fire, demand for the school’s technical education programs is strong, said Craig. Enrollment jumped by 125 students, or 17 percent, this year, she said.

“We don’t have too many programs that aren’t near capacity,” said Craig.

For more, see Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com