TOLES reports rapid enrollment growth, workforce partnerships and state capital ask
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Summary
TOLES, Madison County’s career-technical site, told commissioners enrollment has doubled in four years, nursing and manufacturing programs are expanding, and the school is pursuing state capital funds for a vertical search-and-rescue training facility.
TOLES, the career-technical school that serves Madison County and surrounding districts, told the Madison County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 3 that enrollment has doubled in the past four years and that program expansion is focused on meeting local workforce needs. "Nursing, far and away," the presenter said when asked which programs are seeing the most growth, noting TOLES is hiring additional instructors and expanding clinical partnerships.
The presenter described TOLES’ "2 by 2" model — two weeks on the jobsite and two weeks in class — and said the arrangement has produced direct pathways into local employers. The school highlighted partnerships with OhioHealth and Columbus State that allow some students to work while gaining tuition support: "OhioHealth's annual tuition assistance covers a 100% of tuition at Columbus State," the presenter said, describing a pathway from TOLES to an RN credential with little or no out-of-pocket cost for students.
TOLES also outlined a new indoor agriculture program developed in partnership with Ohio State and a growing adult-education portfolio that includes fire/EMT and advanced manufacturing technician training. The presenter said the school has a $30 million construction project underway that is expected to finish in December and that contractors have already hired TOLES students for on-site work.
On the capital side, TOLES said it will pursue state capital funding for a vertical search-and-rescue facility — a four-story training structure to supplement existing burn-facility training for high-angle and vertical rescues. The presenter said discussions with state lawmakers and the college partner are ongoing and invited commissioners to advisory meetings and a spring career fair.
Commissioners and staff asked about program clarity (for example, pre-vet versus veterinary-school tracks) and were told TOLES is working to better describe program pathways so students and families understand whether a program is a pre-vet technical pathway or a direct veterinary medicine track. The presenter also said the school is tracking federal and state funding changes — including short-term Pell eligibility for career-technical programs — that could help expand financial aid to students.
The presenter closed by inviting commissioners and county leaders to tour the facility and to participate in advisory council events. The board took no formal vote on the presentation; the session served to inform commissioners and to highlight TOLES’ capital and program priorities.
