Kamila Hernandez, a soon-to-be freshman at the Natural Science Technology Center, was excited by the newly rehabbed facility on Elmer Drive.
“I have always wanted to be an ethologist or zoologist, so I decided this was the best school to do that,” Kamila said. “All of the plants around here and the school makes me feel free to enjoy life.”
Her mother, Lillian Ovalle, and father, Abel Hernandez, agreed.
“We wanted the best school for our daughter to be in for what she wants to do,” Ms. Ovalle said. “That is why we moved from Palmetto, South Carolina. We searched online and this was the only school in the country with this programming. We moved to Toledo because of this school.”
Toledo Public Schools held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday. The newly renovated and expanded school was part of an $11 million project at the Natural Science Technology Center. Existing core classroom areas have been upgraded, along with improvements for offices, bathrooms, a new roof, and the parking lot.
Improvements and additions also include construction of a new classroom wing for expansion of the school, a new HVAC system, an electric vehicle charging station, and the complete remodeling of the career tech lab spaces, and a veterinary surgery lab.
“This is the future of education where students will get hands-on experience, and they can earn college credits as well,” said Kurt Wicklund, senior director of Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo. “TPS is investing in the future and reinvesting in the community.”
The NSTC school is part of the Aerospace and Natural Science Academy of Toledo, which also includes the ANSAT school located on West Airport Service Road.
Beginning at the start of the school year, seventh and eighth-grade classes will be added at both ANSAT school locations.
Students will take their required core courses (math, English, science, social studies) plus additional courses focusing on their areas on concentration, whether it’s aviation or natural science.
At the natural science center, students can major in animal science, veterinary technology, urban agriculture, or wildlife and sustainability, Mr. Wicklund said.
TPS Superintendent Romules Durant said TPS has been working with the Metroparks Toledo and the Toledo Botanical Garden when developing the center.
“This center is near the Metroparks, and the aerospace academy is at the airport,” Mr. Durant said. “They put students near the industries they want to work for. We want to educate you here so you can live here and grow here.”
Mr. Durant said all of the magnet schools currently have a wait list. He said adding seventh and eighth-grade students allows the district to get to the students early to get them on the road to what they would like to study.
“We have a student from South Carolina and one from Texas as well,” Mr. Durant said, “It shows that parents across the country are doing their research and finding our schools.”
Bob Vasquez, vice president TPS Board of Education, said the district is embedded in the community.
“I want to thank the community for supporting us. This only happens with their support,” Mr. Vasquez said. “TPS is committed to providing the best, innovative curriculum in the best learning environment as possible.”
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) thanked Mr. Durant for his vision.
“Thank you for seeing opportunity in the environment,” Ms. Kaptur said. “We have to think about the Great Lakes, as they are the largest body of freshwater. Fresh water is life, and the lake is a life source. There are many jobs related to the natural sciences and the students here will have a leg up in those industries. We need to educate the people who care deeply about the environment.”
Matt Killam, chief outreach officer for Metroparks Toledo, said the parks system reached out to TPS five years ago.
“We asked Dr. Durant to stand with us, and he did,” Mr. Killam said. “We now have the best park system, and we have built a living lab. Working at the Metroparks is possible for me because of the education I received at TPS.”
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