Value of Partnerships

  • By Deb Moore
  • 03/01/15

Build it and they will come. That is the story of the recently opened Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) Northeast Campus. The Northeast Campus is built on an 11-acre site adjacent to the Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix. The designbuild project by DLR Group/Architechnology and McCarthy Building Companies included the transformation of existing office, warehouse, hanger and vehicle maintenance shop into a first-class educational environment.

Touring the campus and meeting with staff members and their superintendent, Greg Donovan, gave me a renewed appreciation for the value of partnerships.

West-MEC is a public school district that provides students innovative Career and Technical Education. More than 21,000 students from 46 high schools across almost 3,685 square miles are currently enrolled in West-MEC Career and Technical Education courses. In addition to satellite programs for students at their high school campus, West-MEC currently operates a Central Campus, a Freightliner Campus, Start@West-MEC, the Northeast Campus and a number of educational partner campuses.

Other partnerships and alliances include Arizona DES Rehabilitation services, Southwest Skills Center and Sonoran UCEDD to train young adults with disabilities, and the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Association.

In addition to equipment and support, Snap-On Corporation has named West-MEC as a certification center for the state and the Train-the-Trainer conduit for a four-state area. Trane Corporation teamed to establish an HVACR training program and The Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station has partnered to establish an Energy Technician training center.

It didn’t take long for me to see that this is not a vo-tech school of yesteryear designed for “those kids.” It is a school that offered a college and career pathway for the students choosing to attend. Students come away with skills, certifications, college credits and a path to the future. The proof is in the numbers. The retention rate at the school is between 96 to 100 percent. The graduation rate for CTE students is 99 percent. In a time when we must focus our energies on partnerships, workforce development, a bridge between high school and college, jobs and student success, West-MEC has done it right. It is a program and campus worth seeing!

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Three U.S. Universities Install Acre Security Access Control Platform

    Cloud-native physical and digital security solutions company Acre Security recently announced that it has deployed its access control platform at three major universities in the U.S., according to a news release. Acre partnered with Atrium Campus to provide coverage for more than 69,000 students at the University of Virginia (UVA), George Mason University, and Rockhurst University.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Texas District Finishes Construction on New Middle School, Admin Building

    The Westwood Independent School District recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Westwood Middle School and Administration Building in Palestine, Texas, according to a news release. The campus covers 106,000 square feet and has the capacity for 650 students in grades 6–8, and it will also play home to the district’s staff and administration.

  • Designing Learning Spaces that Support Student Mental Health and Wellness

    In today’s education landscape, schools are more than just centers for learning; they are integral to the holistic development and well-being of students. The global pandemic underscored the importance of addressing mental health in schools, as productivity dropped, stress levels rose and students faced challenges managing emotions.

Digital Edition