Business group views Career Academy

GAINESVILLE - The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce South Hall Business Coalition got its first look at students who are learning by doing Tuesday morning at the newly dedicated Lanier Charter Career Academy.

Hall County high school students are getting first hand experience in the hospitality industry and Coalition members got an invitation to come and do business. Jim Ellis with the Insurance Office of America, a former Hall County student, says he plans to do just that.

"Since finding out about this facility, we are definitely going to use it for meetings and their marketing department," Ellis said. "Their marketing department alone has a great deal to offer to companies like mine."

The Hall County School Board dedicated the $3-million facility, built with grant funds, at their meeting Monday night. Principal Cindy Blakely said 100 students get six hours of daily instruction at the Academy, in addition to attending their regular high school classes.

"One of the things that is important to the school is that we do no more simulations," Blakely said. "The more that we can reach out to the community and invite the community in, it gives our students opportunities to serve the public and provide different services either for an individual company or to come for here for coffee or to hold a meeting."

Blakely said it's her hope that her students will be job-ready when they leave school to seek employment.

"We provide formal and informal critique to the work they do, not only in terms of technical skill, but to the hospitality side," Blakely said.

Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield told Coalition members students who get 'hands on' experience as part of their learning make better grades because they are engaged in something they are interested in and they want to be a 'value add' to local businesses by partnering with them.

He said Academy students in the advanced marketing class are launching a 'Spend in Hall County' campaign to promote local business sales and services.