On Thursday, Dec. 2, the Raymore-Peculiar School District had a “demo-day” groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction for the district’s LEAD Center.
A group of students in the Ray-Pec High School Enterprise & Design program planned the ceremony. Because the building already exists, the ceremony included hitting a wall with sledgehammers to kick off construction and renovation at the site.
The LEAD Center is located at M-58 and Foxridge Drive in Raymore. LEAD stands for Learning, Experiences, And Discovery.
The school district purchased the building in February 2021 to provide additional opportunities for students in the area of career oriented education and real world learning experience. The facility, which has about 41,000 square feet, had been vacant for several years.
The district’s machining program, currently located on the main Ray-Pec campus, will move to the LEAD Center for the 2022-2023 school year. The Ray-Pec Enterprise & Design program will also be relocated to the LEAD Center. Other programs planned for location at the site include electrical studies, a future teachers program, and co-location with a business. Future programs being considered for the LEAD Center include heating and cooling (HVAC), plumbing, and automation and robotics.
In the photo: While School Board members watch, Ray-Pec High School Senior Malcolm Goswell knocks a hole in the wall at the LEAD Center. Goswell is part of a student group that planned the Demo Day ceremony.