The Charter School of Educational Excellence is completing $4.5 million in upgrades that will deliver a new auditorium and a second vehicle-repair lab to its campus in October.
“We envision a four-year automotive program focusing on automotive service specialist careers using a curriculum that prepares students for entry level positions as automotive service technicians,” said Dwain Palmer, the CSEE’s high school principal. “We also recognize the importance of the performing arts in allowing young people to explore and express their creativity as they prepare for careers.”
The new auditorium includes a stage, 600 seats, state-of-the-art audio-visual capacities, and a large projection screen. The campus’ second new vehicle lab is a fully functional auto service garage with two hydraulic lifts, a floor mounted scissor life, and a classroom separate from the garage.
The Greater New York Automotive Dealers Association estimates a shortage of 20,000-30,000 automotive technicians in the New York tristate area by 2024 with the growth of electric vehicles.
The addition of the stage and auto shop is the latest upgrade for the K-12 public charter school. Last year, the school opened a new $27 million high school at 220 Warburton Ave.
The new, 76,000-square-foot high school includes a competition-size soccer field and oversized classrooms. The high school offers culinary arts, automobile technology and health sciences programs that allow graduating students to acquire immediate employment. For the students seeking to continue their studies, the CSEE’s curriculum includes up to 24 college credits.
From its opening in 2005, the CSEE’s mission is to empower children to excel. Its students have performed better on state assessment exams than their counterparts in the Yonkers Public Schools for the last six years. The NYS Education Department designated the CSEE as an exceptional Reward School.
