District Highlights New Agriculture/STEM Building During Open House

Bourbon High School held an open house for the new Agriculture/STEM building on Thursday, the big ticket item of the district’s June 2020 bond issue.

The building cost around $1.5 million and was completed last September.

With 7,500 square feet, the building contains a state-of-the-art shop with eight welding stations, steeling bending and staging fabrication tools; precision machining equipment; CNC plasma and laser machines and other hand and power tools, according to BHS Principal Matt Peregoy.

“This is one of the best facilities in the area for local district career tech education programs,” Peregoy said. “We want Bourbon High School to be in the position to produce students who are technology and skills ready for the growing need in the workforce.”

Peregoy said it puts the district in a “great place” to continue to grow into that role.

Program expansions are planned and there is room in the building that will allow them to grow into that goal.

“This community has demonstrated their willingness to provide the district with the tools required to help our students get ready for the next step of their lives,” he said.

There are two classrooms in the building, one devoted to agriculture sciences and the other to the school’s STEM program — Project Lead The Way.

“The ag science classroom is outfitted with a fully-functioning kitchen and cleaning station, allowing for food sciences and other related courses to be comfortably taught in the room,” Peregoy said.

The room also has a meeting and presentation area.

The STEM room is outfitted with 20 computers designed to function using computer aided drafting software that meets industry standards, three 3D printers, various programming/coding tools and equipment, along with presentation and work areas.

“We have great educators in the building who are able to instruct our students in many project-based learning experiences,” Peregoy said.

On the agriculture side, the school is offering ag construction, mechanics, structures and technology.

“These are all classes devoted to career paths within the world of agriculture and beyond,” Peregoy said.

The ag classroom offers science, leadership and communications, horticulture/floriculture and greenhouse/landscaping.

The STEM classroom offers Essentials in Engineering and Introduction to Engineering and Design.

Both focus on different areas of engineering and the design process, Peregoy said.

All classes are project-based and hands-on.

Peregoy thanked the community for giving the district what it needed.

“We are thankful for the support and will continue to set and meet new goals for this community's school district,” he said. “Our door is always open if anyone wants to come see what we are doing here.”