School debut

The Advanced Technical Center (formerly known as the Career Center) will give the public a glimpse at its new structure with a grand opening scheduled at 6 p.m. Tuesday for parents and community members.

"It is working the way it is supposed to with more students taking classes every day, and it is an opportunity to understand the changed campus," ECISD communications director Mike Adkins said. "We want to show off what the ATC is what it offers to students."

The event will start with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a speech by superintendent Hector Mendez, but the main event will be held inside. An open house will include student-led tours of the Center and displays from each of the career and technical fields offered, including culinary arts, computer animation, health careers, computer technology and the virtual high school. Career and technical education director Ian Roark said the ATC has many programs that provide a head start on post-high school education.

"I hope they see the level we have taken the curriculum, the number of programs leading to college credit or national certifications," Roark said.

The ECISD board of trustees approved changing the Career Center from a high school to an extension campus providing technology courses to students at Odessa High and Permian.

"It was a big deal in the community whether this was the best way to redesign the Career Center, and now it is open after our focus being on just getting it working at the beginning of the school year," Adkins said.

The beginning of the school year included some busing issues with students being late due to route scheduling issues. However, Roark said transportation has been working smoothly of late, and that he was not surprised by the initial kinks.

"It was somewhat anticipated; considering what could have gone wrong, we ended up pretty well," Roark said.

Roark said he hopes the grand opening will be for more than parents and students, that business and community leaders will also see what skills-based education the center offers.