DERRY — Pinkerton Academy's Career and Technical Education program is in line to receive millions of dollars from the state to upgrade facilities and programs.
At a meeting Jan. 26, Pinkerton officials told sending town School Board members that a plan to create new space and upgrades to the school's CTE curriculum was set to begin this year.
Pinkerton is set to receive approximately $7.8 in state funding earmarked for CTE facility renovations.
The Derry school is one of 26 CTE education centers located around the state.
Schools are chosen for CTE funding and upgrades on a biennial basis.
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, 14,000-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.
The plan also includes renovations to the existing Low building, garage renovations, Campus Corner store upgrades and a new sugarhouse.
"Architecturally, (the buildings) will match buildings in the area," CTE director Jack Grube said. "The brick will match the Low building and Saltmarsh Library."
Grube said the state will review the project plans and would like to see construction completed within two years. Ground-breaking could happen this spring.
"We will be in all the major education facilities in 24 months," Grube said.
Pinkerton has about 350 courses offered through its CTE program, including food, marketing, technology, finance, electrical, welding, construction, forestry, animal science, culinary arts and health sciences.
The health curriculum and the culinary arts program, complete with the new Astro Cafe, are located in the new Freshman Building.
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