Iredell schools seek $650,000 in lottery funds to expand Katz campus welding shop

Iredell County school officials asked the Board of Commissioners to approve the use of lottery repair-and-renovation funds for a project to expand and renovate the welding shop at the Katz Career and Technical School.

Mark Marchenkarek, presenting for the school system, said Lefebvre Construction was the low bidder at $650,000. "Most of that number is in the mechanical, electrical, HVAC, air ventilation system that these labs need to have in order to, of course, keep air quality and safety for our students in place," Marchenkarek said. He said Mitchell Community College would contribute equipment valued roughly equal to or greater than the county’s share, with the county covering fixed assets and construction costs and the college providing lab equipment.

Marchenkarek described the program as the district's fastest-growing trade in its career and technical education (CTE) program and said the project would roughly double the shop’s capacity from about 15 stations and add an adjacent fabrication lab. The schools seek to begin construction this summer and finish by fall if approved.

Commissioners discussed layout and space concerns raised by CTE teachers and said the district has met with department staff, the principal and designers to review configurations. "We have a few ideas. And actually, our director of construction is meeting with Lefebvre tomorrow to explore some of those ideas that were developed yesterday," Marchenkarek said.

One commissioner criticized the percentage of lottery proceeds the schools receive; Marchenkarek noted local allocations are limited and the specific request is using the smaller repair-and-renovation lottery account. The board approved the item by consent.

The schools said the project funding will combine lottery repair-and-renovation funds, federal CTE dollars, and Mitchell Community College’s equipment contributions.