FORT PAYNE – April 8, 2024, was an exciting day for Fort Payne High School and the entire Fort Payne City School System. Governor Kay Ivey, along with a host of elected local and state officials, cut the ribbon for the new vocational school nicknamed the BEAT Center, which stands for Building, Electrical Vehicle, and Aviation Technology.
Fort Payne Schools Superintendent Brian Jett welcomed the standing-room-only crowd to the facility, which represents a substantial investment in STEM-focused education. Jett stated, “Today marks a significant milestone in our school district’s commitment to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a 21st-century Workforce.”
Ground was broken for the 5.8-million-dollar structure over two years ago, and now it is fully operational. The Building, Electric, and Aviation Technology (BEAT) Center consists of one classroom setting with three simulated workplace bays to house the Building/Construction, Electric Automotive, and Aviation Technology programs. Innovative simulated curriculum programs will be used in each vocational career pathway ensuring that students graduating from each program will be credentialed and capable of being employed in their chosen field.
Students in the building program will work with power tools to learn the skills needed to construct tiny homes. The program will collaborate with industry experts to connect students to possible jobs.
The Aviation Technology Program, taught by Instructor Steve Black, will empower students to take flight in the rapidly expanding drone industry by allowing students to earn Federal Aviation Administration Part 107-C Remote Certificates. Students who pass the certification will be licensed to operate drones commercially in the United States. Fields such as mapping, real estate, construction, photography, film production, law enforcement, and the military now have a demand for drone pilots.
Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston was one of the speakers for the program. He pointed out the importance of the Electric Automotive Training Program in today’s economy. Livingston said, “Alabama is on the breaking edge of technology. The Alabama Game Plan that the Governor led the legislature to pass last year has set us up with some of the top economic development incentives in the county. We are making hay while the sun still shines.” Livingston reported that Alabama came in first place in the nation in automotive exports for 2023, bringing in $11,000,000,000 from sales. The automotive industry field needs a skilled workforce, so this type of educational resource is important to area students.
Leader Livingston introduced Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, who he said was instrumental in securing the funding needed for the project. Speaker Ledbetter, in turn, thanked Governor Ivey, Alabama Director of Economic and Community Affairs Kenneth Boswell, and former Fort Payne City Schools Superintendent Jim Cunningham for their efforts in making the facility a reality. Ledbetter stated, “Today’s ribbon cutting represents the culmination of years of hard work going into this point. Teamwork at all levels, including the Fort Payne City School Board, Superintendent Brian Jett, and local and state officials.” Ledbetter thanked Governor Ivey for her leadership and support of the legislature, highlighting many of the administration’s recent accomplishments. Ledbetter said, “Governor Ivey will be recorded in history as the best governor this state has ever had.”
Governor Ivey then thanked all those present for being there and said, “I am pleased to be back in Fort Payne, Alabama. I don’t think I have seen as much excitement at Fort Payne High School since Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and Alabama performed its first June Jam here in 1982.” Ivey praised the Fort Payne City School System not only for having the vision for the BEAT Center but for all its other innovative educational programs. Ivey said, “The range and depth of career-ready instruction already offered in Fort Payne Schools is frankly unrivaled by a system its size. Health Science, Sports Medicine, Robotics, Engineering, Horticulture, Culinary Arts, Public Safety, and Cyber Security are just a few programs the system offers.”
Aviation Instructor Black, with the assistance of three of his students, explained more about the drone program and presented a video highlighting the program and the Fort Payne City School System.
The program concluded with the official ribbon cutting.