At a Randolph County Schools board meeting, a staff member updated trustees on ongoing renovations at the Randolph County Career Technical Center, including exterior repairs, new roofs, doors and windows, extended bus awnings and interior remodeling of the health-science wing.

The presentation detailed why the work matters: enrollment at the career center has “quadrupled” in roughly three to four years, staff said, and the district is investing in updated equipment to match that growth. The district has secured a $150,000 check from State Senator Price, given to “Mister Cofield,” to help pay for new supplies, the staff member said.

Board members heard that the district has already replaced roofs on two buildings and is replacing exterior metal, adding new doors and windows, painting and extending the front awning to cover space for two buses. Work planned or underway on the health-science area includes new flooring, ceilings and modern training equipment: new EKG machines, hospital beds and a multi-symptom mannequin for student simulations.

The presenter said much of the campus has not been upgraded since it was built in 1973, with the health wing added shortly after. The board and staff described the upgrades as responsive to state changes that have allowed more students to attend the career center and to local principal and counselor outreach that increased enrollment.

No formal motion or vote was taken on funding or contracts related to the renovation during the meeting; the item was an informational update to the board.

Board members and staff encouraged community members to view the renovated facilities and noted that the county’s high school basketball tournaments will be held at Southern Union for the next four years, a development staff said has given students additional exposure to the college’s technical programs.