Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Education topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Contractor: CTE radio room conversion on track for fall; district cites certifications and a donated skid loader
Summary
The contractor updating the district's CTE radio room told the board slabs have been replaced and framing and masonry are underway; CTE director Jennifer Reef reported strong certification pass rates and a donated Caterpillar skid loader from Milestone Contractors.
FCI Construction project manager Austin Conrad told the Whitley County Consolidated Schools Board on March 23 that work to convert the former radio room into a CTE facility has moved from demolition into concrete and framing stages.
"We got the main slabs poured. The wood framing has started," Conrad said, describing masonry partition work and the start of exhaust and conduit runs for future welding booths. He told trustees the contractor discovered largely substandard slab conditions during exploratory work and chose to remove and replace the slab to ensure durability for the intended use.
Conrad said interior work is prioritized so classrooms will be ready for the coming school year; exterior grading and site work will continue as weather permits. He invited trustees to attend biweekly progress meetings and to schedule a guided walkthrough with hard hats and vests.
Jennifer Reef, the district’s director of innovation and career technical education, reported a series of CTE achievements and donations. She said the automotive drivetrain and axles program recorded an 82% first‑time pass rate on an industry certification; animal science students earned OSHA‑10 credentials (100% pass), and FIRE 2 students achieved a 100% pass rate on their industry credential. Reef also announced Milestone Contractors (through local contacts) donated a Caterpillar skid loader to the district to support heavy‑equipment instruction and that area vendors have contributed lumber and materials for construction‑trades classes.
Board members acknowledged the partnerships with local employers and thanked project staff and contractors for progress updates. No formal actions were taken at the meeting; contractors and staff said they expect construction milestones through summer with substantial completion of work by fall.
