Hannibal School District to add HCTC building on the middle school campus

HANNIBAL, Mo. – The Hannibal Career and Technical Center is preparing to add a new building to the Hannibal campus.

Brent Meyer, HCTC Director, explained to Hannibal school board members Wednesday night that funding for the building comes from a $250,000 grant received by the district.

The construction of the building will require an additional $250,000. Meyer reported that FFA has raised $60,000, and about $123,000 is available in a trust fund.

The building, which will be a 60-foot by 80-foot structure, will house and expand on several career and tech programs, including raising shrimp and other fish. This will expand the aquaponic system they currently use in the HHS greenhouse with tilapia.

They will also have a dedicated space for meat cutting. 

Meat processing is a class already established at HCTC but the new building will provide adequate space –whereas the class now takes place in an HCTC classroom and tables are used for cutting. 

Students learn wholesale cuts and retail cuts of meat from carcasses brought into the classroom.

Meyer said the meat processing class gives students a chance not only to learn butchering techniques but also to learn where their meat comes from. Meyer said there is a possibility for state certification in the class.  

The current classroom used for the class is USDA local compliance but the expansion will give them USDA federal compliance. It will also allow them to use equipment for butchering that is used in the industry.

“If they ever want to do it on their own, they will be using industry-type equipment,” Meyer said.

The area will also have a walk-in cooler and freezer, band saw, smoker and more. They have currently used sheep, pigs, and goats, but would like to add beef.

“So they will be able to do everything,” he said. “Our goal is not to become a processing facility but to educate students on meat, where it comes from, how to cook and prepare it.”

The building will be near the greenhouse on the Hannibal Middle School Campus, and will be built to match the middle school building. The construction process will involve students from Building Trades and other HCTC classes. 

Other business:

• Transportation Director Scott Speer recognized several transportation employees.
• Grace Hiles, HHS senior, was recognized for her acceptance to Naval Academy and Coast Guard Academy.  
• Euguene Field students presented their kindness club, gardening club, and cooking club.
• Lissa Biggs, Title I teacher at Veterans Elementary, was recognized as teacher of the year.
• Assistant Superintendent Meghan Karr presented a plan to have Narcan available to district nurses.
• Assistant Superintendent Shawn Brown explained attendance issues and went over results of surveys conducted for students, parents and staff. The results are to be posted as pie charts on the district website.