DERRY — As Pinkerton Academy's Career and Technical Education program gets a big boost with new programs and facilities, the public is invited to come hear about the building plan and other details.
Pinkerton is holding a public meeting to explain the construction about to begin at the high school campus.
The CTE Public Preview is set for May 21 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the lecture hall of the new Freshman Academy building.
Featured presenters at the meeting include Sen. James Rausch, R-Derry, and Lisa Danley, state CTE director.
Pinkerton will receive approximately $7.8 million in state funding earmarked to upgrade CTE facilities and programs.
The meeting is being held to give additional information to the public about how the project is being paid for and what is planned.
The project has gone through the town approval process and was most recently approved by the Planning Board.
The project will require no local tax money and is paid for through the state grant.
The building plan includes construction of a one-story, 6,500-square-foot building near the existing animal science area in the lower portion of campus.
The building would house animal science and cosmetology.
A second, 15,000-square-foot building would be built on the site of former portable classrooms that were demolished last year. That building would be home to Pinkerton's architecture, environmental studies and engineering classes. A new greenhouse space would be built in this facility.
A third building planned is a 2,000-square-foot building across the road from campus that would be used for storage.
The plan also includes renovations to the existing Low building, Campus Corner store upgrades and a new sugarhouse.
Pinkerton Headmaster Mary Anderson said with construction set to begin, people will naturally wonder what's going on. She said the school wants to bring those details to the public.
"Construction and equipment this spring and summer will prompt people to ask about the activity at Pinkerton," Anderson said. "This event is a chance for the public to learn first-hand about the state grant that pays for this work, as well as details of the project, itself."
An official groundbreaking for the project is set for May 21 at the school's quad area, where most of the CTE work will take place over the next 18 months.
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