District breaks ground on High School Skills Center

District breaks ground on High School Skills Center

Walla Walla Public Schools conducted a public groundbreaking ceremony Monday, March 25. The Southeast Area Technical Skills Center is located on the campus of Walla Walla Community College. The building is expected to be completed March 2014 with classes beginning Fall 2014.

The Skills Center will offer high school courses in construction trades, welding, renewable resources and health occupation programs. Partnering districts include Dayton, Waitsburg, Touchet, Prescott, and College Place.

This project is fully funded by the state of Washington. The legislature has funded a total of $11,519,000 during the 2011-13 biennium for this project. In February, Walla Walla Public Schools accepted the nearly $8.3 million bid from Leone and Keeble, Inc. of Spokane, WA to construct the facility. Two of the project’s major subcontractors are from Walla Walla: Walla Walla Electric and Cutting Edge Plumbing & Mechanical.

“The Southeast Area Technical Skills Center provides more opportunities for learning and is a great partnership with Walla Walla Community College,” Superintendent Mick Miller said. “The more educational options we have in the valley, the better it is for students.”

The Walla Walla Skills Center will be a branch campus of the Kennewick School District’s Tri-Tech Skills Center. Walla Walla Public Schools anticipates the Skills Center will serve 60 Full-Time Equivalent students when it opens and grow to 160 FTE in future years. High school students will attend for a three period block in either the morning or afternoon. Career and Technical Education courses at Walla Walla High School will still be offered.

For more information, contact Communications Director Mark Higgins: mhiggins@wwps.org or 509.526.6716.