Huntington, IN - In a presentation to the Huntington County Community Schools Board on April 14, Principal Tiffanney Drummond shared significant progress as the Huntington County Community Learning Center establishes itself as an independent Career and Technical Education district.
Drummond outlined several key achievements reached since the school's initial steps toward independence nearly a year ago, including the successful withdrawal from the Area 18 CTE cooperative, completion of equipment appraisals, and official recognition from the Commission for Higher Education on March 12 confirming the center met all requirements to form its own district.
"On March 31st, we sent our payment for our Perkins-funded equipment," Drummond reported. "That was accepted by the Area 18 governing board, so we now own all of our own equipment outright."
The transition to independent status brings immediate practical benefits for students and staff. The center has already submitted its application for federal Perkins grant funding, which was developed following a comprehensive local needs assessment conducted last fall with input from community members, teachers, and administrators.
"What's exciting is when I turned in this grant in March, I actually turned in the budget for next year... If this gets approved from the state, we'll order equipment in July, and our teachers will come back and have the tools they need day one." - Principal Tiffanney Drummond
The Perkins grant application outlines four strategic goals: increasing enrollment in high-demand skilled trades programs (particularly precision machining, welding, and construction), expanding work-based learning participation, boosting the percentage of students earning state-recognized certifications, and enabling teachers to attend professional development conferences.
Drummond highlighted how the center's new independent status will dramatically improve equipment acquisition timelines. Previously, as part of a nine-school cooperative, equipment ordered in January might not arrive until the following school year. Now, with control over their own budget, the center can order equipment as soon as the grant period begins in July.
Priority funding has been allocated to the state-designated high-value programs including welding, computer integrated manufacturing, engineering, and construction, though other programs will receive support as resources allow.
Looking ahead, Drummond revealed plans to formalize the center's culinary program, transitioning it from an introductory offering to a comprehensive half-day program utilizing their newly built kitchen facilities. Additionally, the center aims to reestablish its early childhood education program, which has been on hiatus since a previous instructor's retirement.
"Early childhood education is something that our community is crying out for because they need it so badly." - Principal Tiffanney Drummond
The Learning Center continues to see rising enrollment across its programs. When asked about student interest for the 2025-2026 academic year, Drummond confirmed that "all of our numbers are up, which is a really good problem to have." Several programs are enrolling more students than ever before, though staff remain mindful of space constraints and safety considerations in shop environments.
Superintendent John Trout praised the Learning Center's role in attracting students to the district, sharing an anecdote about a student who transferred from a neighboring smaller district specifically for the expanded opportunities available through Huntington County's Career and Technical Education Programs.
"When you wrap great teaching around great programming around great leadership, I think you can ask for some really positive things to happen here," Trout concluded.
The board and administration expressed continued commitment to supporting the Learning Center's growth and development as it begins this new chapter as an independent CTE district.