Greene County Career Center to buy land, expand as Fairborn enrollment dips, official says

Pat McCourt, representing the Greene County Career Center, briefed the Fairborn City Schools Board on May 1 about current enrollment, capacity and planned expansion of the career center.

McCourt said Fairborn sign-ups for juniors dropped to 13 this year from 57 last year — a decline he attributed in part to students’ interest in visiting Fairborn High School’s new facilities — and that overall the center currently serves 57 juniors and 85 seniors. He said 284 Fairborn students took classes tied to the career center this school year.

Capacity and expansion plans: McCourt told the board the career center has been at capacity for two years and that the center’s board recently agreed to purchase about 13 acres near the existing campus. If the purchase closes as planned, the center will own roughly 21–22 acres and intends to build at least one new building to add lab space and accommodate more students.

Leadership and operations: McCourt said Greene County Career Center superintendent Dave Deskins will be stepping back from day-to-day duties while keeping his title and focusing on fundraising; Brian McKnight, a former Fairborn High School principal, will assume day-to-day operations of the career center. McCourt invited board members to visit the campus, have lunch with the culinary students and tour labs.

McCourt also noted a practical funding detail: when students attend the career center, the sending district’s per-pupil funding shifts with the student’s placement. “Anytime kids go out to the career center, Fairborn District loses a little money,” he told the board, adding that the opportunity remains valuable for students who find career-technical programs a better fit.

The board did not take formal action on the career-center report; McCourt said he expected to return with further updates at a future meeting.