KSHB 41 reporter Marlon Martinez covers Platte and Clay counties in Missouri. Marlon has been following this development since the beginning and checks in with the school district regularly for updates. Share your story idea with Marlon.
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Construction is underway on a new Northland Career Center in Platte County. The center will more than double the number of career programs available and serve over 900 students — including adults seeking night and weekend classes.
"We turn a lot of kids away because of the size; there's just not enough space. So this will double the opportunities for kids in the Northland in Kansas City," said Brian Noller, executive director of business services for the Platte County R-3 School District.
The current Northland Career Center serves about 450 students and offers about 11 programs. The new facility will offer 23 different programs and will also expand access to night and weekend classes for adults.
“We're gonna have an opportunity for a center that is really available for anyone in Kansas City to grow themselves, but also have support for other resources," Noller said.
New programs at the facility will include JROTC, expanded healthcare pathways, cosmetology and fields in data centers.
Noller said the project is one that benefits everyone in the region.
"Very fortunate myself to be a resident here, a parent here, and my child actually goes to Northland Career Center now, so I'm excited to say that as well," Noller said. "But I think the Northland is very special. And again, this is for the Northland, but I continue to say this can be opportunities for other Kansas City kids and adults to join from any part of the city."
After public feedback, the new career center will also include a new child care center.
"We've been told that when you build workforce, you have to have child care to support that," Noller said. "And our goal is to take all the barriers away that we can, and so child care being one of them, transportation another."
So far, the new center has received funding from the state of Missouri, local municipalities and others.
Organizers are still looking for additional public and private sources to help close the funding gap. For information on how you can help, visit their website.
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