EDITOR’S NOTE: This is one in a series looking at what Lake County communities and agencies experienced in 2023 and what is facing them in 2024.

 

By CHAD FELTON | [email protected] | The News-Herald

December 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

It was a big year for Auburn Career Center.

The district-wide vocational school not only continued its expansion of specialized programming, upscaled curriculum, and community partnership and outreach but was also awarded grants totaling over $4.5 million.

However, one highlight Auburn Superintendent Brian Bontempo is especially proud of is the institution’s multifaceted and continuously increasing appeal.

“We saw our highest enrollment this (school) year and it’s been going up year after year,” he said. “We’ve been really focused, too, on getting students into internships. When students are prepared, businesses are confident in their abilities and we strive to make that happen.”

As of Dec. 14, Auburn has placed 103 students into area internships, which follows a total of 107 students last year. Bontempo estimates this year’s figure to hit 125 to 130.

“The feedback we receive from our partnerships has been absolutely positive,” he said.

Those business community partners, Bontempo added, have also increased, totaling 625.

Moreover, he noted, while high school programming commands a big part of the school’s attention, the rapidly growing adult workforce programming continues to emerge from under the radar.

“Our (Adult) Practical Nursing program, for example, was recently ranked ninth in the state,” Bontempo said. “And our Adult Fire Training 

Program has seen 200-plus people take part.”

Additional departmental curricula that have “gained momentum” include Sprint classes, where high school students take adult public safety courses, and the center’s fire (training) tower, in addition to notable educational elements such as welding and cosmetology.

Earlier this year, Auburn Career Center was awarded a $330,000 job-training grant to establish a workforce development initiative for adult residents of Lake and Geauga counties with developmental disabilities.

The school, Bontempo confirmed, is one of four to be chosen for the program — “Pathways to Careers – Improving Post-Secondary Education Options for Students with Developmental Disabilities” — by the Ohio Board of Developmental Disabilities.

According to Michelle Rodewald, Auburn director of adult workforce education and business partnerships, the strategic plan for the project serves to develop new credential classes and apprenticeship prospects.

“There are over 250 adults in Lake and Geauga counties with developmental disabilities who could benefit from additional post-secondary opportunities,” she said. “These include students who graduated in 2020, 2021, and 2022 plus students who will graduate or exit school during the grant period.

“The classes that will be offered will be short-term and hands-on, and each class will lead to another class where the student could potentially earn an additional, stackable, nationally-recognized credential,” Rodewald added. “Courses will be designed based on the hours needed to complete the training for the credential, and an additional amount of hours to increase the time needed for students to practice the skill to gain mastery.”

The core team, which includes the Lake County Board of Developmental Disabilities/Deepwood, meets regularly to measure progress and make any necessary adjustments to the classes.

In addition to the Lake County Board of DD, Auburn is also partnering with Ohio Means Jobs Lake County, Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, and students and their families.

New/updated equipment and space, including a precision design and analysis lab, in addition to changes to the horticulture program, which will work with hydroponics and local wineries, will move Auburn into 2024, Bontempo noted.

At the city of Wickliffe’s request, the center is also working on a project to create a Wickliffe script sign built by welding students and painted by the auto body enrollees, he said.

Additionally, this year was named one of 35 schools that will receive grants totaling almost $200 million through the Ohio Career Technical Construction Program.

According to officials, the program aids in expanding education and training facilities to serve more students.

Bontempo noted Auburn was awarded $4,261,092 for its allied health technology, patient care technician, state-tested nurse aides and exercise science programs.

Auburn plans to renovate its current health care wing, expanding four program labs to five.

The grant will also allow Auburn to move forward with “much-needed” renovations and purchase modern supplementary equipment.

“The ability to offer additional in-demand training in state-of-the-art facilities to the students of Lake and Geauga counties will positively impact our communities for years to come,” Bontempo said.

“We continue to see a growing interest in health care fields in our region and across the state,” he added. “And this week we had our first meeting to begin to set the timelines for this project. Because of the (anticipated) use of these buildings, timing and scheduling of the work will be critical.”

The project will work “in tandem” with the second phase of the school’s redesigned public safety facilities.

Officials confirmed Phase II will include a building for “unique” first-responder training classrooms, high bays for fire trucks and other special training opportunities.

Phase I, of the outdoor fire training space, was recently completed and is currently in use.

Bontempo said the school should have its quality and precision measurement lab completed before the end of the year.

“This (stage) will allow middle school, high school, and adult students, in addition to customized training for the manufacturing community, to access up-to-date quality tools,” he added, noting the lab was also completed as a result of a state workforce grant.

“We want to offer as many opportunities for students and the business community to utilize the great facilities that we have as possible,” Bontempo said. “We also can’t say enough about our excellent partners — recently, we rolled out the addition of a 5-axis Haas machine in our lab, which was a direct result of the Alliance for Working Together….to provide a high-quality career tech education, it takes a lot of resources and support, and we are fortunate to have that support.”

And, school officials said, the “ever-popular” Auburn Room Restaurant, once again, didn’t disappoint, booked in advance from its opening in mid-October to its last (seasonal) opening earlier this month.

“We will be taking reservations for our super-popular Spring Menu with burgers and barbecue starting mid-March, with seating by reservation only,” said Culinary Arts Instructor Amy Ryan.

The student-run eatery will also continue its “Grab ’N Go” selections, “a great chef’s-choice opportunity to support our program if you are unable to make reservations,” Ryan added.

“We are so thankful to the community for supporting our students and giving them this great hands-on experience — we couldn’t do it without them,” she said.

Bontempo emphasized that Auburn’s individual stories remain the driving force of its success and that the growth of the culture and attitudes continue to inspire.

“There are so many people and organizations who have truly embraced what we do, and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “We’re very 

proud and we’re looking forward to next year.”