On August 18, 2021, Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools held its official Grand Opening of the new Engineering Technologies Center at Eastland Career Center. More than 100 people including students, staff, members of the EFCTS Board of Education, community members, local politicians, and supporters of career-technical education came together to witness the ribbon being cut and the doors opened to the newest facility supporting EFCTS students.
Representatives from the offices of Ohio Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown joined the EFCTS Board of Education as distinguished guests of the grand opening and joined all attendees in touring the facility. Board of Education President Bill McGowan and Superintendent/CEO Dr. Kim Pietsch Miller delivered remarks about the wonderful opportunities the Engineering Technologies Center and the updated equipment within will provide its students.
"This new facility represents our commitment to our students, their learning, and our valued business partners," said Dr. Miller. "It also represents our commitment to expand existing programs and bring new and in-demand opportunities to our students."
Measuring in at approximately 43,000 square feet, the Engineering Technologies Center (ETC) broke ground in March 2020. The $10.3 million structure is fully equipped with more than 20 individual welding booths with top-rated personal exhaust systems, 13 state-of-the-art flight simulation stations, a full-size hangar built to fit up to three aircraft, lab and instructional space with digital displays, a partitioned meeting room to seat up to 200 people, and three full offices.
The ETC will serve the Aviation, Welding, and Pre-Engineering programs at Eastland Career Center. In addition to new facilities and upgraded, state-of-the-art equipment, the increased space dedicated to each program will allow each program to expand the number of students that will be afforded opportunities to participate in these programs.
The ETC will also serve as the future home of Eastland-Fairfield's Mechatronics program, which will debut in Fall 2022.
