BY KATHLEEN QUANDT
Clarkston News Intern Writer
With lifelong employment mostly a thing of the past, Oakland Technical Campus Northwest offers students a chance to explore several careers.
More than $17 million in renovations, as well as curriculum updates, will improve those chances, said Chuck Locklear, dean.
‘What we’ve gone through is a curriculum framework project where we’ve updated all our curriculum, so we’re integrating emerging technologies and also we have integrated workplace skills,? Locklear said.
Skanska U.S.A. Building and Integrate Design Solutions added 28,500 square feet, about 44 percent of the building, and renovated 98 percent of the existing structure on Big Lake Road off Dixie Highway, Springfield Township.
Renovations included technologies, computer systems networks, electrical, mechanical, boilers, septic system, and fire suppression. For the culinary arts program, every piece of equipment in the kitchen was replaced, at a cost of about $500,000. The greenhouse was updated and modernized, costing another half million.
New CNC equipment was added for about $100,000, as well as a $100,000 paint booth for auto body repair, and $50,000 worth of robots.
Learning labs were added to one of the cluster areas.
‘The learning labs allow us to add and integrate academics,” Locklear said. “So, in addition to the career and technical education, students also receive math, science, and language arts credit while they’re at the technical campus.?
Each learning lab has a wireless laptop computer system and the latest in multimedia. Curriculum changes integrate the new techology, Locklear said.
The school meets with a business and industry advisory committee for input.
‘One of the things they often tell us is that workplace skills are very important for students to be successful,? Locklear said.
Skills include working on a team as well as independently, and being dependable, Locklear said.
The curriculum includes more technology, workplace skills, and academics, he said.
‘There’s a lot more academic requirements in a student’s high school career than there has been in the past,? Locklear said.
The campus offers eight areas of study, clustered in Visual Imaging Technology; Business, Management, Marketing and Technology; Culinary Arts/Hospitality; Construction Technology; Engineering Emerging Technologies; Transportation Technology; Health Sciences and Biotechnology; and Environmental Science.
They accept students from 10 school districts. Students spend half the day there in morning or afternoon sessions.
OSTC-NW, 8211 Big Lake Road in Springfield Township, hosts an open house for middle and high school students, Thursday, Feb. 5, from 4:30-7:30 p.m.