County Breaks Ground on Innovative High Schools Building

Henderson County Commissioners, Blue Ridge Community College officials, and staff and board members representing Henderson County Public Schools turned the dirt on a project site that’s been in the works for several years.

On the college campus site, officials celebrated a groundbreaking of the Innovative High School Building, which will be a combination of HCPS’ existing Henderson County Career Academy and Henderson County Early College – and serve as a model of community, college and public school system partnership for the state of North Carolina.

Set for completion by September 2017, “The Innovative High Schools Building will house nearly 500 students and will provide them access to Blue Ridge Community College instructors and facilities while offering a one-of-a-kind seamless transition from high school to postsecondary training,” said Blue Ridge Community College President Molly A. Parkhill.

The Career Academy and the Early College have similar visions but separate missions – both of which will be furthered by direct access to the college campus, HCPS Superintendent Bo Caldwell said.

The Henderson County Career Academy currently offers Art, Automotive, Business & Finance, Fire Fighting, Food Service and Mechatronics academies to high school students pursuing direct, specific career goals unavailable in a traditional high school setting.

The Henderson County Early College gives many first-generation college students the opportunity to complete high school and college coursework through Blue Ridge Community College in five years, and graduate with both a diploma and an associate’s degree.

IMG_9896“Thanks to the guidance of the Henderson County Board of Education and the generosity of our county commissioners, we as a school system are excited to see the success of this collaborative process championed by Dr. Parkhill and former Superintendent David Jones to serve two very student-centered school communities,” Caldwell said.

The 50,000-square-foot facility designed by Clark Nexsen of Asheville will be located just off of East Campus Drive on Blue Ridge’s Henderson County Campus, and is being constructed by Beverly Grant Barnhill. The total projected cost is $15,725,184.

“This is indeed a great partnership,” said Henderson County Board of Commissioners Chairman Tommy Thompson. “These students will have a direct pathway into higher education and local jobs. This is truly a great day for Henderson County.”

“It will be a win-win for both our campus and community,” said Parkhill.