Waterloo Schools have announced the 9th career program to be offered in 2018.

Waterloo Schools is announcing Sustainable Construction as its ninth career program set to be offered in fall 2018 at the Waterloo Career Center, housed in Central Middle School. Sustainable construction will cover the fundamentals of blueprint reading, estimating, building codes and ordinances, frame construction, interior and exterior finishing and concrete work. Digital interactive media, marketing management and web programming & development are the other three career programs that will start next year.

"We are very excited to introduce sustainable construction as our fourth new program for next year. In conversations with several business leaders, over the last few months, one thing we have heard loud and clear is the need for workers in the skilled trades area. This program will be the impetus for other programs in this pathway." - Jeff Frost, Executive Director of Professional Technical Education.

Recently the Board of Education unanimously approved a plan to move forward with bids on a nearly 14-million dollar remodel at the center. The 80,000 square foot project includes a new 2,500 square foot entrance.

This fall three new pathways (advanced manufacturing, early childhood education and information technology-networking) were added to the available career options (nursing and digital graphics), bringing the total number of programs to five. With the addition of four new NEWS programs next fall, a total of nine career pathways will be available for high school students to pursue by attending classes at the center for part of their school day. Eventually the remodeled space will host 15 pathway programs. The career center renovation and expansion will be paid for with existing district funds available through the local option sales tax funding stream (SAVE).

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