The state board of education approved the charter for the Commodore Conyers College and

Career Academy Thursday, ending a comprehensive approval process and paving the way for the regional special-purpose school to become a reality for the students of Southwest Georgia.

Once open, the college and career academy is expected to serve as a regional workforce development engine for Southwest Georgia; allowing students from Dougherty, Baker, Calhoun and Terrell Counties the opportunity to connect on-site with Albany Tech, Albany State University and Darton State College for credit and coursework.

The academy will also facilitate trade labs where students can receive practical, applied workplace and job skills from industry professionals through internships, apprenticeships and off -site training opportunities.

“This academy has been a priority and focus for the system and the board for years,” Butch Mosely, superintendent of Schools for the Dougherty County School System, said. “Thanks to the collaboration and teamwork of our school system and school systems in Calhoun, Terrell and Baker; the support and partnership of Albany Tech, Darton and Albany State and strong support from the business community this is finally a reality.”

Anthony Parker, the president of Albany Technical College lauded the state board of education’s decision and the opportunities it brings for students in the region.

“The combination of the Career Academy with the Move On When Ready program will provide high school students the opportunity to graduate with an associate’s degree or equivalent when they leave high school,” Parker said, “High school graduates could enter the workforce at 18 years old with the skills required to start a career at or above a living wage or enter a university with up to 55 credits that could be applied to a bachelor’s degree,” he added.

“Employers in Southwest Georgia will be able to influence the makeup of their labor force. The combination of the Career Academy and Move On When Ready will deliver a labor force with the skill sets need to encourage expansion. A prepared and well-educated workforce will also encourage industry to relocate to the Albany Region,” he added.

Now armed with the state BOE’s blessing, the governing board of the academy — which is composed of appointees from the local school systems, higher education and industry partners — can begin the process of searching for a CEO and starting renovations to the site, which is currently Southside Middle School.

Those renovations are possible thanks to a competitive $3 million grant from the Technical College System of Georgia, which was awarded to the effort during the TCSG’s Board Meeting in December.

“Having industry leaders at the table is crucial for all this to work,” Dougherty BOE Chair Velvet Riggins said. “The goal is to prepare students to enter the workforce and to have the skills to be successful. So having a strong presence on the governing board for industry just makes sense.”

Justin Strickland, president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, says the school has the opportunity to spur economic growth in Southwest Georgia and bolster the availability of a highly skilled workforce to the region’s strong base of business and industry.

“We’re glad to see the State Board of Education grant the petition for a charter school, which will create the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy. Giving our students in Dougherty County every opportunity possible is tantamount for their success and for our future workforce.”

The framers of the school’s charter have identified career pathways that both mirror Gov. Nathan Deal’s High Demand Career Initiative and would fill the needs of local industries in Southwest Georgia. These pathways are Agriculture, Healthcare, Defense, Logistics, Information Technology, Aerospace, Automotive Manufacturing and Manufacturing.