Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— During Governor JB Pritzker’s State of the State address to a joint session of the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday in Springfield, he declared his support for the proposed Southland Career and Technical Education Center (SCTEC).
Establishing the Center has been under discussion for several years. The SCTEC would provide students in the Southland access to vocational training in areas such as construction, manufacturing, aviation, public safety, urban agriculture, information technology, and logistics and supply chain management. In addition, multiple school districts comprise a consortium whose goal is to open the Center at the former Rich East High School in Park Forest.
Below is an excerpt from Governor Pritzker’s speech:
“I propose we create our Vocational Training Grant Program – which will provide school districts and regional vocational centers with support to build and expand specialized workforce programs, like the proposed Southland Career and Technical Education Center in Park Forest and the South Central Illinois Training and Innovation Center in Litchfield. These partnerships forge higher-paying career paths for high school students while meeting the workforce needs of our employers. We have over 200,000 job openings in Illinois. This legislative session, let’s explore every possible avenue to help businesses fulfill their workforce demands and give high school students a path forward to a good-paying job.”
Reaction from the Superintendent
Rich Township Superintendent Dr. Johnnie Thomas was in attendance for the Governor’s speech. He was very pleased that the Center is now part of the conversation on how best to serve the state’s educational and vocational needs. Moreover, he stated, “The goal now is to move that conversation forward.”
Thomas met briefly with the Governor following his speech. He felt that the Governor was very supportive of what the consortium was working to establish. In fact, Thomas said that he and other local leaders work with the Governor’s office to make the SCTEC a reality.
The Consortium of districts involved with the SCTEC proposal includes
- Rich Township District 227,
- Homewood Flossmoor District 227,
- Bloom Township District 206,
- Speed S.E.J.A. District 802,
- and Prairie State College.
The Governor’s reference to Litchfield is encouraging because it closely aligns with the planned SCTEC. Opened in 2023, that facility serves students in Montgomery and Macoupin counties south of Springfield. It offers training in automotive technology, welding, construction crafts, and nursing, among others. Furthermore, nine school districts are members of that consortium.
As previously reported in eNews Park Forest, the SCTEC Consortium is working to secure the funding necessary to construct the facility. The cost will run approximately $100 million. Once funding comes together and engineering designs receive approval, the goal is to open the facility within three years.
