By PAT RAIA
The Hernando County School District will receive $9.35 million in state funding to develop and operate a new career and technical college under the fiscal 2021-2022 budget signed June 2 by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The stand-alone facility will be located adjacent to the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.
According to Hernando School Board Member, Jimmy Lodato, the allocation is key to the County’s future.
“The future of economic development in Hernando County hinges on the training and preparation of our students,” Lodato said. “A stand-alone technical college will ensure we move into our future, ready.”
Also under the General Appropriations Act, the Hernando School District will receive $350,000 to expand the Criminal Justice Program at the Nature Coast Technical High School. According to Superintendent John Stratton, the revenue will be used to develop a physical training area for the program, as well as to create a forensics instruction lab and purchase a law enforcement simulator.
According to Superintendent John Stratton, the Hernando County School District plans to break ground for the new career and technology center in the fall of 2021.
A design committee of individuals from throughout the County will be established to comment on and make recommendations for the project.
Those interested in joining the design committee may visit the Hernando County School District’s School website at hernandoschools.org, to complete and submit an application.
