School District 227 Opens New Wing Of STEM Campus

Rich Township High School District 227 recently opened a wing at the STEM Campus to expand opportunities for students in Horticulture, Construction, Aviation, and Automotive Technology. Photo provided by Global 360 Marketing.
Rich Township High School District 227 recently opened a wing at the STEM Campus to expand opportunities for students in Horticulture, Construction, Aviation, and Automotive Technology. Photo provided by Global 360 Marketing.

School District 227 Opens New Wing Of STEM Campus

By Tia Carol Jones

Rich Township High School District 227 recently celebrated the opening of a new wing at the STEM Campus, located at 600 203rd Street, in Olympia Fields. The wing includes four pathways: Horticulture, Construction, Aviation, and Automotive Technology.

Dr. Johnnie Thomas, Superintendent of Rich Township High School District 227, said opening the new wing not only expands opportunities for students, but will also expand opportunities within the community. Thomas said the pathways in the wing are labor market indexed to support the community.

“In opening an aviation wing, we’re supporting our pilots, our air traffic controllers, we’re creating future industry workers, leaders and owners as a result,” he said.

In the horticulture facility, students will learn how to grow and farm their own food, through unique techniques and resources, as well as how to create sustainable food for areas like Black communities that can be food deserts.  Dr. Thomas said this is a way of creating engineers of the future.

There is also an electric vehicle lab which will support the work in clean energy, which will help students understand traditional engines and mechanisms as well as the future of transportation. With the construction trades, Dr. Thomas said the goal is to build individuals that are exposed to the trades but also understand how to manage projects, construct buildings and facilities. He said the goal is that with this knowledge those students will be able to own their own construction company in the future.

“All of these things are part of an overall vision of creating students who can help change our community through their work. It’s really planting that seed with the hope that it takes root and continues to help us have vibrant communities, not only in our area, but across the country,” he said.

It took about a year to build the facility, which took into consideration feedback from teachers and instructors on what the spaces should look like and what kinds of innovations and technology should be in those spaces. Students have already been working in the space. Dr. Thomas said Southern Illinois University visited the school and saw the programs and offered support to the students. The students gave the tours and they were excited about their prospective futures.

Dr. Thomas said that the new wing is part of the school district’s vision of transformation. He said the school’s mission is to focus on the students and their success. He said he is really proud to see the school district, administrators and faculty come together and create unique opportunities for the students.

He said he is hopeful for the future, as it relates to the school and the community. He said none of it is possible without a supportive, consistent, strong board who believes in leadership. He said their vision of what should happen for the students and the team of administrators and faculty being able to carry it out, shows the importance of the partnership.

For more information about Rich Township High School District 227, visit www.rich227.org.

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