Touring the Schools of Innovation

Peachtree The first thing to know about the Cherokee County Schools of Innovation & Technology, which is on schedule to open to students in August, is that it’s actually three schools in one building.

The new 66,000-square-foot building broke ground for construction in July 2021 on 27 acres off U.S. 64 next to Tri-County Community College. It will host two existing schools – Tri-County Early College High School and The Oaks Academy alternative school – as well as the Career Academy, which will offer vocational opportunities for all Cherokee County high school students.

The School of Innovation has a $20 million price tag, funded by $15 million from N.C. Education Lottery proceeds and $5 million from local sales taxes that have already been set aside for the project.

With the new school replacing two aging, energy-inefficient campuses that were often inadequate to their needs and in need of costly repairs, officials with Cherokee County Schools expect to be able to enhance students’ education while saving money at the same time. Both of those prospects has Alicia Cheek excited.

“This is something we have needed for a long, long time,” she said with a smile. “Once parents see this, they are going to want their children to come here.”

Cheek, founding principal of the Early College, was tapped by now retired schools superintendent Jeana Conley to head the Schools of Innovation project. Her passion for what it could mean for local students and teachers is obvious when you take a tour with her.

The entrance

The only entrance for the public will include a secure entryway, where every visitor must be cleared before entering the main building. The main offices are conveniently nearby and separate from student areas.

The school resource officer’s work area is right next door, with a clear line of sight down both hallways. That includes the restroom, which will make it more difficult to get away with things like vaping.

Straight ahead lies the dining and kitchen areas, which are designed for all students to use. The airy, open design of the dining hall is meant to encourage conversation and engagement. Better yet, students won’t have to eat in one of their classrooms, which has taken place for years at the Early College.

Across from the dining hall will be the guidance area, with offices for a counselor and nurse. The separate campuses were not able to have these important support personnel on hand full time.

The Oaks Academy

To the right of the front entry on the first floor will be The Oaks Academy, which over the last 20 years has bounced from the former Mountain Youth Center in Martins Creek to the former Marble Elementary School building on Andrews Road. This will be the first time students at the alternative school will gather in a new building.

Like the Early College, The Oaks will maintain its own principal. There are nine ample-size rooms available.

Officials believe having a restroom in each classroom should also cut down on students’ ineffective use of time between and during classes. And double glass windows will allow administrators to easily observe classrooms without being a distraction.

“I’m just so proud, I’m so happy,” Cheek said. “This is going to make a tremendous difference for our students’ future. Just the morale change will be a big positive.”

The Early College

Right above The Oaks Academy on the second floor of the Schools of Innovation will be the wing for the Early College, which has offered students different styles than just traditional teaching methods. By state law, an Early College must be contiguous to a community college.

There are nine rooms available, with removable partitions when there’s need to combine classes. Cheek said that will be a big help due to the school’s project-based environment, as teachers will be able to easily maneuver between classrooms.

At the Early College, more than 80 percent of students over the last 17 years have also graduated with an associate’s of arts degree – or two – meaning their first two years of college were free of any financial debt. That’s one reason why the school usually has a waiting list.

The Career Academy

In the rear of the building on the first floor will be large areas for public safety (including emergency medical services, firefighting and law enforcement) and wood shop (including carpentry, construction and contracting) – all vocations in desperate need of new workers today.

In essence, that’s why the vocational school is called the Career Academy – because officials hope the classes taken there are just the beginning of students having a more rewarding life, not just getting a job.

On the second floor, plans show rooms for teaching:

• avionics (featuring drone technology);
• broadcasting (with a soundproof recording studio);
• graphics (including popular Adobe programs);
• mechatronics (which merges mechanics, electronics and computers);
• nursing.

Those classes will change as time goes on to reflect whatever local students need, as Schools of Innovation leaders meet periodically with a local Business Advisory team to advise it on workforce needs. (For transparency, the Cherokee Scout is a partner in that effort, working with the Communications Group.)

Officials also hope to develop a military science program, a cadet corps similar to ROTC, for which local veterans organizations will offer support.

The opportunities

The drama room is “really special,” Cheek said, as it will be used for a lot more than just plays. “We’ve never had enough room for the entire school to attend assemblies.”

This is the first time the Early College and Oaks have had a new facility. Cheek said putting them all in one building should bring about significant cost savings every month over the two separate buildings the school system is running today.

The School of Innovation is specifically not trying to duplicate courses offered at the community college, which is just a 10-minute walk for students at the Early College and The Oaks. Buses will bring students from Andrews, Hiwassee Dam and Murphy high schools to the Career Academy on a regular schedule.

While Cheek has received a lot of praise for the project, she’s quick to share credit.

“This school would not have been built without Dr. Conley,” she said.

Since the new building is going up in an area with a lengthy Native American history, the overall design will incorporate colors and styles from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, using patterns from baskets and beading.

The campus is being built by Wells & West Inc. of Murphy, which officials said was able to provide the most square footage and opportunities for students. There will be more to come starting Monday, Aug. 29 – the first day of class for Cherokee County students in the 2023-24 school year.