Lake Weir High to expand construction program with pre-apprenticeship options

[Lake Weir High School]

Lake Weir High School’s construction program is expanding thanks to a partnership between Marion County Public Schools and the Academy of Construction Technologies.

The partnership will allow for Lake Weir High students to complete a pre-apprenticeship program to work with construction experts on real projects.

The school district’s application for Lake Weir to participate in the partnership was recently approved, and negotiations for a contract are underway.

About 125 students are enrolled in Lake Weir’s building construction program, said MCPS spokesperson Kevin Christian.

“The number of pre-apprenticeship programs will be determined later based on the contract and local availability. Full capacity between both teachers would be around 250 students; however, not all students would be in the pre-apprenticeship program since you have to be 16 to participate,” Christian said.

The program will feed high school students directly into Marion Technical College’s electrical apprenticeship program.

“This new partnership comes through the combined efforts of MCPS, the Marion County Building Industry Association, CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion, and the Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership,” said Christian in a press release.

ACT works with high schools in several counties to train students in a variety of trades, including building construction technology, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry and plumbing, according to its website.

“The funding for the program is earned by full-time equivalent (FTE) dollars generated based on student enrollment and industry certifications earned as well as referendum dollars and the Carl D. Perkins federal grant,” Christian said.

The school district anticipates for students to begin working hands-on with experts on projects as soon as September.