Effingham County School District and Savannah Tech Announce Academic Expansions in Effingham County

July 18, 2024

Effingham County, GA — Effingham County School District (ECDS) and Savannah Technical College (STC) celebrated academic expansions in Effingham County today with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Effingham County School District Performing Arts Center and the Jack Hill Conference Center and ribbon-cuttings for STC’s Nursing/Science Lab expansion and STC’s Commercial Truck Driving training expansion its Effingham Campus. 

“Dayle and I are incredibly excited to celebrate these amazing accomplishments for our community and the students in Effingham County,” said Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington). “From increased education opportunities at Savannah Technical College to the Jack Hill Conference Center and the new Effingham County Performing Arts Center, we’re proud to see our community prioritize future generations and make investments to provide our children with the best education possible—both in and out of the classroom.”

The new facilities will provide state-of-the-art facilities for students and the community, fostering growth in the performing arts, healthcare, and commercial trucking sectors. 

“Today’s celebration marks a significant achievement in enhancing educational opportunities and workforce development in Effingham County,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “The collaboration between the Effingham County School District and Savannah Technical College exemplifies the power of partnership in creating pathways for student success and economic growth. The new facilities and expanded programs will provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a competitive job market. We are proud to support these initiatives and look forward to the positive impact they will have on the community.”

This event marked a significant milestone in the partnership of Effingham County School District and Savannah Technical College. Together, these institutions are committed to enhancing educational opportunities and supporting the future workforce of Effingham County.

“Congratulations to our friends and partners at the Effingham County School District and Savannah Technical College on the kickoff of these remarkable new projects,” said Effingham County Industrial Development Authority CEO Brandt Herndon, who is also the vice chair of STC’s local board of directors.  “We are thrilled to see the addition of new educational programming, as well as meeting and conference capabilities in Effingham County. The conference and performing arts centers provide much-needed multi-purpose space for our growing community.”

Effingham County School District Superintendent Dr. Yancy Ford said: “Today’s groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting ceremonies are more than just celebrations of new buildings; they are a testament to the power of collaboration and shared vision. The partnership between Effingham County School District and Savannah Technical College exemplifies our commitment to providing unparalleled educational opportunities and fostering workforce development in our community. These new facilities will not only enhance our students’ learning experiences but also prepare them for the future.” 

Savannah Technical College President Dr. Ryan Foley said: “We are excited to celebrate these major academic expansions and enhance our partnership with Effingham County School District. Through these capital projects to expand training in Effingham County, Savannah Technical College continues its mission to ensure graduates are career-ready, equipped for high-demand careers, and poised to fill the skills gap in today’s dynamic job market.”

Effingham County School District Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center will be approximately 100,000 square feet and will feature an 1,800-seat auditorium, cutting-edge stage, sound and lighting systems, spacious dressing rooms, classrooms, a black box theater, and conference room. Located adjacent to the Jack Hill Conference Center, this new facility will provide unparalleled opportunities for students in fine arts to showcase their talents, while also serving as a cultural hub for the entire Effingham community and surrounding Coastal Empire region.

Jack Hill Conference Center

The Jack Hill Conference Center totals approx. 15,000 square feet, which includes a 5,000-square-foot multi-use banquet room, an executive conference room, and a catering kitchen. The Conference Center was named after Georgia State Senator Jack S. Hill, who served Georgia’s 4^th District. At the time of his death, he was the longest-serving Georgia State Senator.

The Conference Center and Performing Arts Center will share a 10,000-square-foot outdoor courtyard.

STC’s Nursing/Science Lab expansion

STC’s Effingham Campus is now home to a new nursing suite and natural science lab. These expansions added more than 3,500 square feet. The nursing suite includes a classroom and lab for hands-on training with hospital beds, patient simulators and occupational therapy training space. The new science lab (1,584 square feet) will be able to accommodate any of the natural science classes at Savannah Technical College including chemistry, biology, and other natural sciences.

Georgia Board of Nursing (GBON) recently granted developmental approval for the Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) program at the College. Developmental approval grants the College the permission to begin the development of an ASN program. Pending initial approval by GBON and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the first cohort of 24 students will begin using the new Effingham nursing suite in January 2025. Graduates of the Associate of Science in Nursing program will be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). For more information about STC’s training for nursing, please visit: savannahtech.edu/Nursing

STC’s Commercial Truck Driving training expansion

The Commercial Truck Driving training program at Effingham Campus has been expanded and upgraded. The driving pad now has room for two additional testing pads (31,200 square feet each) to use with the current driving pad. The program also moved from a mobile trailer classroom to a new building (2,520 square feet) with a 32-seat classroom, a simulation room with two truck simulators, offices, restrooms, a small vending area, and a break/lounge area. Also, a dedicated parking area was added to organize student and staff parking. 

The original driver training pad (93,500sf), which was used for training and testing students, has been fully resurfaced and laid out for training. It also meets new testing maneuver requirements per the Georgia Department of Driver Services for CDL licensing.

The two additional testing pads allow for dedicated testing areas in addition to training. This expansion greatly increases the opportunity for the College to train, test, and license more students for a career path in high demand.

The College offers Commercial Truck Driver’s License (CTDL) training at its campuses in Liberty County and Effingham County. The training may be completed in eight weeks.  While there is great demand for this training, including from transitioning service members and military spouses, enrollment is limited by the low instructor-to-student ratios required during the driving portions.

Students must be at least 18 years of age (21 years of age for interstate travel) to enroll in Commercial Truck Driving. For a full list of admission requirements, please visit: https://www.savannahtech.edu/CDL.

About Effingham County School District:

Effingham County School District is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for college, careers, and life. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, the district serves thousands of students across Effingham County.

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Savannah Technical College serves Coastal Georgia with quality, market-driven technical education with campus locations in Chatham, Effingham and Liberty Counties. Serving more than 10,000 credit and non-credit students annually, Savannah Tech offers nearly 150 different instructional programs in Aviation Technology, Business and Professional Services, Industrial Technology, and Health Sciences in addition to Adult Education classes, industry-specific training and continuing education. The College serves as an economic and community development partner for the region, offering corporate and customized training and assessment programs for business and industry.