The groundbreaking ceremony for the new $3.2 million addition to the new Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy was held on Wednesday, May 21.  The ceremony to turn the first shovels of dirt for the new wing was held at the location of the new building on the current campus of Floyd County Technical High School.  The new wing will house the School of Engineering and Robotics at the new charter school.  The Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy is scheduled to open on August 1, 2008.  The new addition will be ready for students in the fall of 2009.

The School of Engineering and Robotics will be funded by a $3.2 million grant from the state.  Floyd County Schools will use the grant money, coupled with other in-kind donations and contributions, to build a 16,000 square foot building dedicated to teaching engineering and robotics.  The new addition will house the automated manufacturing and industrial systems robotics labs and classrooms.

The groundbreaking ceremony included representatives from the community partnership that has made this charter school project possible.  The charter is a cooperative effort of Floyd County Schools, Coosa Valley Technical College and the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.  The ceremony included Dr. Lynn Plunkett, superintendent of Floyd County Schools; Frank Pinson, CEO of Floyd County Schools College & Career Academy; Dr. Craig McDaniel, president of Coosa Valley Technical College; Al Hodge, president and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce and Justin Whelchel, a student in the Industry Academy program at Floyd County Technical High.  Justin demonstrated what he has learned in the classroom for the crowd gathered for the ceremony.

The local Floyd County partnership is developing a program that will help provide students with a seamless transition between high school and college.  The Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy, through an online needs assessment, has identified the needs of employers in the community and will match the course work being offered at the school to areas of need identified by businesses in the assessment.   Businesses have found that partnering with the career academies in this way provides a uniquely relevant and prepared workforce.   Participation by technical colleges with career academies ensures that students can make a seamless transition from high school to college programs.  As a result of this community partnership, high school students will be exposed to the requirements of college coursework and the expectations of business and industry.