Ripon Unified is making plans for a new Career Technical Center at Ripon High.

Trustees recently took a step forward by approving a lease-leaseback construction delivery method on the proposed two-story building.

No discussion was necessary at the Jan. 10 school board meeting.

The CTE Center is part of RUSD’s Phase 1 of the Facilities Assessment and Implementation master plan. Once completed, it will accommodate a variety of career pathway courses at RHS, including ag mechanics, ag science, ag business, software & systems development and patient care, to name a few.

RUSD, like many school districts, has opted to utilize the lease-leaseback method for construction of new facilities.

Superintendent Ziggy Robeson noted not too long ago that the new CTE Center would be located near the existing ag building along the where the current parking spaces are situated on the south end of the RHS campus – RUSD would lease that portion of the RHS property to a developer, who in turn would handle construction of the building while leasing it back to the school district once the project is completed.

Along with more classroom space, RHS’s first two-story building would be equipped with an elevator. Included would be workshops for diesel mechanics and welding on the first floor and culinary stations long the other classes planned for the second level.

Robeson mentioned that one-time money could help in the funding of the CTE Center.