New CTE building preparation begins

Posted Apr. 16, 2024

Katie Liang

Features Editor

Construction for the new Future Careers Center building began on Mar. 18 and will continue for the remainder of the school year and the 2024-25 school year.

On Mar. 18, two storage units were set up in the Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Center parking lot in the morning, taking up four parking spaces. Construction workers were preparing the breezeway roof for dismantling and fences were set up around certain parts of the breezeway near the South building to prevent student traffic. When asked, construction workers explained that they were not allowed to disclose information about the construction to students. As of Apr. 8, workers have not been seen working on campus during school hours and all parking lots are still fully available besides the four spots in the PAC parking lot that the storage units remain located on. 

The construction of the new building will disrupt the paths from the South building to the breezeway. Students were informed of the new temporary changes in walkways and parking availability during the Mar. 20 advisory lesson. The set up of the construction site would become active "in the weeks after spring break." Signage will be posted around areas of the campus impacted by the construction warning people of sidewalks that are closed and where active construction sites are. The construction site blocks the breezeway by the South building and extends to approximately where the baseball field is located. The majority of the PAC parking lot will be used for storage trailers, which may cause parking issues for future spring concerts and performances in May. 

The departments that will be relocating to the new building include Health Science, Business, Culinary Arts, Automotives, Makerspace, Education, and more. The Health Science classes will be greatly impacted by the new location. With the additional space and equipment, students will be able to experience more realistic simulations of the real world and specific health care careers. Nursing beds and mannequins are a few of the new materials added to the Health Science department, all located in a setting that resembles a real hospital. Access to this new technology will provide students the opportunity to learn about health care occupations in a more engaging and interactive environment that meets the standards of the real world. Health Science and Health teacher Julie Caverly looks forward to the new building and teaching with the new and advanced technology. 

"We are so fortunate at DDHS to get this opportunity for such a fabulous new space," said Caverly. "This is the way of the real world and really gives students an opportunity to experience what is available to them in the future."