New technical school opened under county school system partnership

The Bibb County School District is adding to its technical school offerings with a new facility on Eisenhower Parkway where students will explore emerging technical fields such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

The Innovation and Technology Academy, set to open in the summer of 2025, is situated at the former site of a Toyota dealership. The lot was donated to the county and transferred to the school district to be used as an educational building.

County government and school board members gathered at the academy last week to celebrate its opening and the ribbon cutting. 

“Being someone who’s been on the school board gave me the life experience to know that we have a college career academy, how important that is and how vital that is to make sure that our kids are able to get those jobs,” Mayor Lester Miller said.

The building has several renovated classrooms and is connected to an auto shop that students will eventually have access to. Bibb County robotics teams will also have access to the space to prepare for competitions.

Students will have the opportunity to take a full-year course in one of five subjects, including electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, aviation and cybersecurity.

The courses will be in addition to their typical education at their home school. 

Cassandra Miller-Washington, the executive director of Career, Technical, Agricultural Education at Bibb County Schools, said the technical programs will give students certifications that are “recognized by the industry.”

She said educators determined the fields to be offered through collaboration with the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority, who highlighted fields that potential employers would recruit from.

“This [new facility] allows us to align the needs of our students, but it also allows us to align with the needs of the workforce that is coming … and being able to create a workforce and allow industry to look at Macon as a place to stop and build their home” she said. 

The school accommodates about 150 students during the first half of the school day and another 150 students during the latter half.

Bibb County Superintendent Dan Sims said the new school will give students another opportunity to explore new fields before heading off to college.

“There’s so much money to be made in technical education,” he said. “You’re talking about establishing students in careers that can change the trajectory of their lives.