Hamilton County Schools enlists students to assist with Harrison Future Ready Center renovations

A photo of the Harrison Future Ready Center (Photo from Hamilton County Schools)

Hamilton County Schools students will soon play a role in renovating the Harrison Bay Future Ready Center in order to gain more workforce experience, a recent district announcement said.

According to a news release from the district, the initiative aligns with the school system’s vision to create "future-ready students" who are “prepared for academic and career challenges, personal growth, and community engagement by providing real-life opportunities.” It said that by encouraging students to assist in renovation, the Harrison Bay Future Ready Center found an innovative way to teach technical career skills and foster students’ “sense of pride and ownership in their learning environment.”

"In Hamilton County Schools, we are committed to equipping our students with the tools they need to thrive in life and beyond the classroom.  The students at Harrison Bay Future Ready Center are assessing hands-on, real-world learning experiences that can align education with Chattanooga's thriving industries.  These opportunities are made possible through the collaboration of our community and county partners.  They create meaningful pathways for life after high school,” Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson said in a public statement.

Principal Chris James added that the initiative in Hamilton County will result in significant cost savings for the district, in addition to providing hands-on career learning experiences.

"This project will provide our students with the spaces and tools needed to be successful academically, socially, and emotionally while providing a transformational experience to augment their daily learning,” he said. "Through their direct involvement in the demolition and finishing process, our students will be learning the practical applications of their knowledge.  This experience is not only beneficial for their skill development but also contributes greatly to lowering the cost and time savings for the general contractor.  By reducing labor costs, we can, in turn, allocate more funds towards essential technology upgrades, ensuring our students are well prepared for the modern workforce."

According to the district's Facilities Director, Justin Witt, students will help with tasks such as installing flooring, which is estimated to save the district $50,000 to 80,000 on labor costs.

For more information on the project, visit www.hcde.org.