Just west of Harrisburg High School, a new building stands as a promise to students and to the community. It represents more than steel, concrete, and equipment. It represents opportunity. The new Career and Technical Education (CTE) building will give students the space, tools, and experiences they need to develop real-world skills while preparing for meaningful careers. For Harrisburg schools, it marks a major investment in helping students discover pathways that extend far beyond graduation.

The vision for the new facility grew out of both necessity and possibility. For years, Harrisburg High School’s agriculture, welding, automotive, and construction programs operated in a shared shop space that had once served as a temporary cafeteria during the high school’s renovation. While the building allowed students to gain hands-on experience, the growing number of participants made it clear that expansion was needed. Construction trades and agriculture teacher Travis Butler explained that at one point, “there were 60 kids in there, and it was way too much.” The demand for these programs had outgrown the space available.

Today, 209 Harrisburg High School students are enrolled in CTE programs, representing a significant portion of the student body. Those students participate in courses that include welding, woodworking, construction trades, horticulture, and automotive mechanics. These classes give students the chance to work with professional-grade equipment while learning practical skills that translate directly into careers.

The new CTE building will allow those programs to expand even further. Unlike the current setup, where students have to walk back and forth between the classroom and shop space, the new facility includes both instructional areas and hands-on workspaces in one location. Butler is especially excited about the opportunities this will create. “There’s a ton of space down there,” he said. “It’s going to be a great space to operate in for a long time.”

The impact of CTE programs extends far beyond skill development. Students gain confidence, responsibility, and pride in their work. Senior Mason King has spent his entire high school career in agriculture and construction courses and already has plans to pursue a career as an electrician after graduation. Through the program, he has worked on projects that serve the community, including repairing a porch at the Saline County Museum and replacing a roof at the fairgrounds. Reflecting on those experiences, he said simply, “It’s cool… something to think on when we drive past it every day.”

Community involvement is a central part of the program’s mission. Students have built picnic tables, created wooden ornaments displayed throughout the city during the holidays, and constructed items that were auctioned to raise funds for local youth programs. Butler emphasized the importance of that outreach, saying, “Our biggest goal with the whole program is community outreach.”

The long-term vision goes even further. With the new building, students will eventually have the opportunity to construct full-size homes within the community. These projects will allow students to experience every phase of construction while contributing to local housing needs. It is an ambitious goal, but one rooted in Harrisburg’s tradition of preparing students for real-world success. Dr. Amy Dixon, Superintendent, says it is her hope that the District can kick this endeavor off in the Fall of 2026.

Dixon recognized the value of CTE programs early in her leadership. While reviewing district data, she noticed a powerful trend. “Of the students who took just one CTE class, they had a 100% graduation rate,” she said. That statistic reinforced her belief that hands-on learning plays a critical role in student engagement and success.

Determined to expand those opportunities, Dr. Dixon led the effort to secure grant funding for the new facility. Through a series of competitive grants totaling more than one million dollars, the district was able to purchase land and construct the building without using local taxpayer funds. “We were able to utilize grant funding and still grow the program and create opportunities,” she explained. “That’s something we’re really proud of.”

The new building will also strengthen partnerships with local businesses and community colleges, including Southeastern Illinois College, which offers dual credit opportunities for advanced welding and automotive students. These partnerships help students transition smoothly from high school into careers or further education.

Beyond statistics and facilities, the true impact of the CTE building will be measured in student lives. Programs like construction trades give students a sense of purpose and direction. They learn not only technical skills, but also the value of hard work and contribution. Dr. Dixon believes those experiences are transformative. “It’s just that opportunity to have that hands-on learning experience that really makes them want to come to school every day,” she said.