ASHLAND — Thursday’s groundbreaking on the expansion of the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center served as a celebration for the school’s past and future.
The groundbreaking doubled as a 50th anniversary celebration for the school established in 1973.
The main school building on State Route 60 was built and dedicated 51 years ago. The first graduating class earned credentials in 1975.
Career center principal Rick Brindley opened a time capsule from 1998 and the school displayed previous yearbooks and memorabilia at Thursday’s event.
The Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center was originally established as Ashland County Joint Vocational School (JVS) before the building established academics in addition to its lab programs.
It has since grown to house academics and 14 career technical education programs. The estimated $43 million project will expand lab and classroom space and allow for higher enrollment.
“This expansion has been a long time coming,” Brindley said. “I came here in 2018, we started looking at stuff in 2019. It’s been a lot of work and I’m excited to be part of it and really glad that it’s here.
“In two years, you’ll see a very good quality school that will bring even more students in. I can’t wait for that opportunity.”
Superintendent Rod Cheyney said he looked back at school records to find the original charter for a 2-mill levy that passed on Nov. 2, 1971. Fifty years later to the day, voters in Ashland and Holmes counties passed a 1.1-mill continuing levy to cover the local share of renovation costs.
“We thank the community for its support,” Cheyney said. “We wouldn’t be here without them and the support will help us adapt and keep up with the job market to ensure our graduates have a foundation for career success.”
Expansion supported by $10.8 million in state funds
The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission put the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center at the top of the list of career technical schools eligible for state funds for facility upgrades in 2019, which kicked off the expansion project.
School board president David Hunter thanked the board’s building committee for its work on the project. The board’s building committee is composed of Forrest Chanay, Jason Chio and Rick Ewing.
“Over the last several years, the board has recognized the growth in students coming to the career center as the trade industries have grown,” Hunter said. “As those industries grow, so does the need to educate the people in those fields, and that’s why we’re here today.”
The Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center is located at 1783 State Route 60 in Vermillion Township. Enrolled students largely come from Ashland, Holmes and Wayne counties. Cheyney said the school also draws a few open enrollment students from Richland, Knox and Lorain counties.
State Rep. Melanie Miller presented the ACWHCC school board with a proclamation from the Ohio House of Representatives recognizing its 50th anniversary.
“This remarkable work being done here at the Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center by the faculty and by the staff has shaped countless community members’ lives and careers,” she said.
“It’s brought immense pride to our wonderful community. With this expansion, you will be on your way to 50 more years of preparing our young people for exciting careers.”
The expansion is expected to begin renovation and construction work this summer with an approximate completion date of October 2026.
