Plans for a significant expansion of the Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI) took center stage at January’s FASD board meeting, as ACTI Director Shawn Eckenrode outlined growing demand for career and technical education, projected costs for a new facility, and the challenges of finding an appropriate site.
Eckenrode told board members that ACTI is turning away roughly 25 percent of applicants each year — about 50 students annually — because the school lacks sufficient space and programs. Currently, ACTI can accept about 150 new students per year from across Adams County, but receives about 200 applications.
“We felt like there were some folks that weren’t getting enough information and didn’t really understand where we were,” Eckenrode said, explaining that ACTI leadership has been holding presentations and attending individual school board meetings to provide updates.
A recently completed feasibility study recommended adding seven new programs and constructing a new 142,000-square-foot facility. The estimated price tag ranges from $56 million to $63 million, not including land.
Eckenrode said that amount likely exceeds what participating districts can afford, prompting discussions about a smaller or phased project supplemented by grants and private donations. District leaders have indicated they could collectively support between $35 million and $55 million.
“We know that we really can’t go build that big of a school right off the bat,” Eckenrode said. “But we know about how much we think we can afford as a group.”
If ACTI expands to 13 or 14 programs, Eckenrode said the school could double its capacity to about 600 students. For Fairfield specifically, that could increase the district’s seat allocation from roughly 24 students to about 56.
Board members questioned how that increase might affect elective offerings at Fairfield High School. Eckenrode acknowledged there would likely be some impact but said the district could work through scheduling challenges.
The search for a building site has been underway for nearly two years. Eckenrode said ACTI has evaluated about a dozen potential properties but has encountered obstacles related to wetlands, utilities, and traffic access. He expressed hope that a suitable site could be identified by summer or early fall.
Once land is secured, Eckenrode estimated construction would take about three years from start to finish.
Local workforce needs have added urgency to the project. Eckenrode cited conversations with area employers struggling to find skilled workers, including a motorcycle dealer who must recruit technicians from Maryland and a plumbing and HVAC contractor who warned that the average plumber in Adams County is nearing retirement age.
“Adams County is not training any plumbers,” Eckenrode relayed from business leaders. “If your hot water heater explodes, it might be weeks before someone can get to your house.”
Board members also asked whether local businesses might contribute financially to an expansion. Eckenrode said formal fundraising discussions have not yet begun but noted that several companies already donate equipment to ACTI programs.
In addition to expanding high school programs, Eckenrode said ACTI is exploring the possibility of offering adult education courses — a common practice at career and technical schools across Pennsylvania — as a potential revenue source.
Despite the significant costs and logistical hurdles, board members signaled strong interest in continuing the planning process, noting that districts have already begun setting aside funds in anticipation of an eventual project.
