Collinsville, IL (KMOX) - "A lot of families think of vocational education or career and tech education, they get stuck on welding and auto mechanics, which we do offer," says Collinsville Area Vocational Center Director Joe McGinnis, "but we also have some very cool offerings."
Electronics, precision machining, cybersecurity, CNA, building trades, food service, cosmetology, auto body, dental assisting, criminal justice, early childhood curriculum including a working daycare center -- all housed in what's becoming a cramped facility on one end of the Collinsville High School campus.
Collinsville Area Vocation Center draws in high school students from multiple districts including Bethalto, East Alton, Wood River, Roxana, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Triad, Highland, Lebanon, Mascoutah and Dupo. But lack of space has forced CAVC to limit enrollment. "When we're looking at workforce development, economic development and student education and careers, we're doing them a disservice by turning that many students away."
With $25 million in state funding promised, CAVC is getting ready for a new, state-of-the-art facility across the road from the high school. The building plans are on the drawing board. The idea is to set that aside for industrial arts, and then reorganize and modernize the exiting building for other training programs. "We do have some blank spaces that are going to be in the buildings," explains McGinnis, "if we're looking 5 to 7 years out we don't know what the job market is going to look like. We want to have the ability... ...to look at that local job market data, talk with business and find out what their needs are... ...and tailor a program to their business needs."
Once the new facility is built, McGinnis anticipates growing from the current 16 programs and 580 students to 22 plus programs with more than 800 students. Initial funding has been released by the state to support the design process. McGinnis hopes to break ground early next year and open the center at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
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