Construction on an ‘Innovation Hub’ at Paducah Independent Schools is starting this fall after the School District Board approved financing for the project Wednesday.
The Hub is replacing the Paducah Area Technical Center at Paducah Tilghman High School.
The Board approved a tentative bid of more than $22 million from Ray Black and Son to build the Hub. That bid also includes three alternative bids to complete the school board office and install the Hub’s flooring and a lock system. Superintendent Donald Shively:
“We’re obviously very excited about the ability to re-imagine educational experiences from that community building perspective, and taking the next step to align talent that we have in our community to workforce needs,” Shively said.
Shively said the Hub will include traditional area tech center classes as well as new programs like engineering, robotics, art and design and information technology. He said the Hub will include a 5,000 square foot ‘makerspace.’
The project is estimated to total around 95,000 square feet. Shively expects to have students in the Hub by fall 2020.