BLOOMINGDALE -- Jefferson County Joint Vocational School is literally building opportunities with a planned upgrade to benefit at least two of its labs.
School board members took official action recently and approved an estimated $392,000 bid from BK General Contracting LLC of Canonsburg, Pa., to complete the work by this fall. Superintendent Ted Gorman said the project entails dividing the current computer networking lab into two areas to make space for training licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
"We are excited to move forward with the LPN and computer networking renovation at Jefferson County JVS. The plan is to divide the current computer networking space into two areas," Gorman explained. "One area will become a new LPN lab, giving more high school students and adults the opportunity to take advantage of this important healthcare training space. The other area will give our computer networking students an updated space where they can continue to learn and develop the skills they need for the future.
"BK General Contracting was the lowest bidder on the project, and we are looking forward to seeing the renovation come together."
The renovation will begin over the next few weeks, and computer students will move to another space until it concludes. Gorman expects the work to wrap up around September. He added that the upgrade would also help meet an ever-growing demand for workers.
"Healthcare and technology are both areas with a strong need for trained workers. By improving these spaces, we are investing in programs that can help students leave JVS with real skills, real credentials and a clear path into the workforce."
The project is among several improvements planned for the site, which also is making way for the return of an HVAC program beginning in the 2026-27 school year. That program will occupy the current heavy equipment operation lab, with the HEO course being relocated to a new building space. Gorman said that project must still go out to bid and he hopes it will also be completed this fall.
"We will have a groundbreaking ceremony for that project since it is a new building and will have more information on that later," he noted.
For now, officials are working with project manager McKinley Architects of Wheeling and are looking at engineering, conservation, bidding and other technical issues before construction begins. He added that, like the computer networking students, the HEO students also will relocate temporarily until that project is complete.
Officials have said the new HEO building also opens opportunities to continue growing programs and improve how the building is utilized.