Sandusky Career Center moves to Venice Heights building

SANDUSKY -- A new group of students now have classes at Venice Heights Elementary on Sandusky's west side. But they're not kindergarten through sixth-grade students. Beginning this school year, the Venice Heights building is now the home to Sandusky Career Center's adult programs. For 50 years, young children attended Venice Heights Elementary. With Sandusky Intermediate for grades 3-6 and Sandusky Primary for first and second grades completed, Sandusky Schools' building assignments have changed. Officials decided to move the career center from Sandusky High School to the Venice Heights building due to its proximity to Ohio 2 for commuter students. The change also gives Sandusky middle and high school students more room for classes. Meet the new administrator Richard Moreck, the new adult education director hired in July, has 24 years in career technical education as a teacher, supervisor and director. His goals, along with moving to the new building, are to increase enrollment and community awareness of available programs. Classes for Sandusky Career Center programs at the Venice Heights building have already begun, but students are still being enrolled. Available adult programs include Licensed Practical Nurse, LPN to Registered Nurse training, medical assisting/phlebotomy, police academy, cosmetology and facilities maintenance. The latter is the only adult program to stay at Sandusky High School. Sandusky Career Center programs for high school students will remain at Sandusky High School, Moreck said. Crews spent recent months moving furniture and equipment to the Venice Heights building and planning a construction project so the cosmetology program can be housed at the Venice Heights building. Instruction during COVID-19 As the pandemic continues, Sandusky Career Center adult students have online and in-person learning for their programs, with CDC and district guidelines being followed. Moreck explained what procedures are being followed so students and staff stay safe. "All staff and students are required to wear face masks, sign in and take temperature, and answer symptom questions," he said. "The custodial staff continually monitor room usage and clean surfaces in each room. Social distancing is enforced within the building." Sandusky Schools building assignments District buildings to be used when in-person classes return this school year are: -Sandusky Intermediate for grades 3-6 at 2020 Hayes Ave. -Sandusky Primary for first and second grades at 924 Ontario St. -Former Adams Jr. High building for Regional Center for Advanced Academic Studies students at 125 E. Adams St. -Former Jackson building for Sandusky Digital Academy students at 617 Jackson St. -Former Mills Elementary building for preschool and kindergarten students at 1918 Mills St. -Sandusky Middle School for seventh and eighth grades at 2130B Hayes. Ave. -Sandusky High School for grades 9-12 at 2130 Hayes Ave. Coming soon: How are Sandusky Career Center high school programs adjusting to the pandemic? Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood