The Apollo Career Center Board of Education voted on May 14 to accept $22 million in Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) funds to repair, remodel and upgrade current technology, infrastructure and academic classroom space.

That decision begins the process of determining the scope of the project, and millage to place on the Bluffton Exempted School District's November ballot. Bluffton is part of the Apollo district.

Career technical education is funded differently from public schools. OSFC will not pay for a new facility, career technical classroom/lab space, nor will it fund any adult education expansion.

However, space for new career tech programs and adult education programs is a critical issue, according to the Apollo board.

Two new programs, Adult Culinary Arts and high school Sports Fitness and Exercise Science, slated to start in August, will be housed off campus due to space constraints.

The Apollo board invites input/feedback and opinions on the future of Apollo Career Center and how best to meet the needs of its community.

Attached is a fact sheet explaining what will be funded by OSFC, and what will not be, which are called Locally Funded Initiatives (LFI).

Apollo Career Center has created an email for the public to submit questions and concerns specific to this project. That email is: yourvoice@apollocc.org.