Polk County Public Schools
The public is invited to a groundbreaking of the Lakeland Electric Power Academy to be housed on the campus of Polk’s newest high school, Tenoroc High School.
The groundbreaking will be held on Thursday, February 14, 8:30 a.m. at the Tenoroc High School site, 4905 Saddle Creek Road, Lakeland. Both the high school and Power Academy will open in August 2008.
The Lakeland Electric Power Academy is a combined project of the Polk County Public Schools and Lakeland Electric. The academy will provide students with a foundation of knowledge and technical experiences in the study of power and energy technology. The academy will provide students with transferable technical skills and an understanding of tools, machines, instruments, materials, processes and systems used in the utilities industry. The academy’s goal is to provide an educational program that will prepare students with knowledge and skills to pursue careers in high skill, high wage careers including the utilities industries.
The Power Academy building will cost approximately $650,000 and is 3,800 square feet and will include a classroom, an electrical shop and equipment storage.
Lakeland Electric has contributed approximately $33,000 and Lakeland Electric staff will also be involved in student instruction. Lakeland Electric is involved in recruiting students to attend the academy. Lakeland Electric also plans to contribute approximately $25,000 a year as the Academy progresses and gain additional funds for the Academy through Department of Labor grants.
The groundbreaking will be attended by officials from the Polk County Public Schools, Lakeland Electric and the city of Lakeland.
Contact Serena Peeler, teacher resource specialist in the Polk Schools’ Workforce Education department, at (863) 519-8274 for further information on the groundbreaking or the Power Academy.
