On Oct. 23, advocates for the Southland Career and Technical Education Center (SCTEC) held a “Lunch and Learn” event, inviting community members to learn about the center’s plans and progress.
The SCTEC designers hope to provide the region’s high school and postsecondary students with a hands-on, career-focused education in aviation, construction, information technology, manufacturing, public safety, urban agriculture, logistics and supply chain management.
(Chris Weber/H-F Chronicle)
State Rep. Debbie Meyers-Martin hosted the SCTEC lunch and learn.
“The project’s focus is one of great merit, as the benefits of career and technical training to create a more empowered workforce extend far beyond that of the individual’s ability to lead a more successful and productive life,” Meyers-Martin said. “It will allow our workforce to remain competitive in a 21st-century economy and meet the demands of growing industry needs.”
The project is a collaborative effort among several local educational institutions, including Bloom Township High School District 206, Rich Township High School District 227, Southland College Prep Charter High School District 162, Homewood-Flossmoor High School District 233, Prairie State College, and SPEED S.E.J.A. District 802. The plan has also gained the support of a long list of community members and government officials.
State Sen. Napoleon Harris congratulated the collaboration and commended the superintendents for working together.
“As a proud product of the Southland, it brings me joy to see this,” Harris said. “Success looks like communities working together. I think ego often gets in the way of progress, and I see egos getting set aside.”
Proponents say that a significant potential benefit of SCTEC is that students and job seekers in the area would have the opportunity to participate in education and training programs that are not possible for each district to provide individually.
A feasibility study has led the group to focus on building a new facility on the now-closed Rich East High School site in Park Forest. The Superintendent of Rich Township High School, Johnnie Thomas, said that the District 227 Board of Education is “willing to donate that land and space for a project like this if we are able to secure the funding.”
According to Thomas, the project will cost around $100 million.
“I’ve often been asked, ‘Why not just put it all back in the existing building?” he said. “When we ran our cost estimates with our construction partners and architects. They estimated the cost to gut out the old building, make sure that it is secure and fix the land at $95 million.”
Thomas said designing and constructing a new building made more sense and included less risk.
Homewood-Flossmoor High School Superintendent Scott Wakeley expressed the importance of the school districts and community members working together and touted the benefits of centers like the SCTEC.
“This is an investment for the Southland,” he said. “I look at the opportunities that other students have. Our kids deserve that.”
The SCTEC advocates hope to present educational specifications and financing proposals to the Illinois State Board of Education next spring before lobbying for funds. Demolition of the existing building and construction of a new structure could begin as soon as 2026. They hope to open the center to students in 2028.
Thomas stressed the importance of relationships with the local and state governments for SCTEC.
He said Gov. JB Pritzker had pledged soft support to the project. Still, he encouraged the community members to step up in multiple ways, including telling the governor and other elected officials why they think the SCTEC is essential and volunteering for advisory boards that will guide the curriculum for each program.
“It is now time for us to put action behind this work,” Thomas said.
The architects designing the new SCTEC building have created a phased construction plan that would allow building and expansion to be completed as funding allows. They have also shared a video showcasing the center’s design concept.
For more information, visit the SCTEC website.
