Photo by Deb Gau Members of the Marshall School Board, including Matt Coleman, got a look around the new auto and welding shop space at the Career and Technical Institute on U.S. Highway 59 in Marshall. The newly-renovated building is ready for students, board members learned. While there was still some organizing to do, equipment for both programs had been moved in by Monday.

MARSHALL — Things have come together at Marshall Public Schools’ new career and technical education facility. During a tour on Monday, Marshall Superintendent Jeremy Williams said the building is now ready for classes to start.

“Students had lessons in this room today,” Williams said, as Marshall School Board members toured the medical classroom and lab space at the Career and Technical Institute on Monday. Advanced automotive and advanced welding students would also likely be at the CTI starting sometime this week, Williams said.

“The kids are very excited to be here,” he said.

The creation of the CTI has been a long process. The Marshall School District purchased property for the institute along North U.S. Highway 59 back in 2021. However, it looked like issues like the availability of materials, and construction bids coming in higher than anticipated, would push the opening of the facility back to 2023.

Williams said partnerships with Marshall area businesses, organizations and residents played a key role in bringing the CTI project to fruition.

“Those partners are making this all possible,” Williams said Tuesday. “As of today, we’ve received just over $150,000 in partnerships. We know we need community partners to make this work happen. The support we’re receiving is greatly appreciated.”

The CTI building has a total of 9,890 square feet of space, Williams said. In the southern end of the building, there is classroom space dedicated to medical career fields. This is where the district’s current certified nursing assistant program is moving. The north end of the building is shop space where advanced automotive and welding classes will be held.

The CTI property also has space that could be used for future expansion into other career pathways, MPS staff said.

During Monday’s tour, board members saw equipment set up for all three programs. While the medical classroom had features like desks and a whiteboard, there was plenty of lab space devoted to training to care for patients. Beds with life-sized mannequins lined the walls, and equipment like wheelchairs and even a rack of clothing could all be used to practice assisting patients with daily tasks.

Williams said two different CNA classes are now using the classroom and lab space, a morning class and a two-block afternoon class.

The shop space included a variety of equipment for doing automotive repairs. Along the walls at one end of the shop, board members could see the ventilation system and workstations set up for welding.

School board members said it was good to see the completion of the CTI, and to see the district support technical learning and the trades.

“This is really positive for our whole community,” said school board member Jeff Chapman.

Williams said MPS is planning an event to let the public see the new CTI. The new facility will be the location of a Business After Hours event with the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 12, he said.