Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss and State Representative Amy Elik recently visited the site of the Collinsville Area Vocational Center (CAVC) expansion. The visit was organized to review construction progress and discuss future plans for the expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) program.
Joe McGinnis, Director of CAVC, led the tour. He explained how each area of the new facility will be used and described how the upgraded center is expected to benefit students as well as local trades seeking skilled workers.
Other attendees included Ryan Savage from Holland Construction, Dr. Mark B. Skertich, Superintendent of Collinsville Community Unit School District #10, and Philip Carter, Assistant Principal at Collinsville High School.
Senator Harriss and Representative Elik have both supported and advocated for this project. The CAVC expansion began construction in March 2025 and is scheduled to open for the 2026-27 school year.
According to project leaders, when completed, the new CAVC will provide more opportunities for students from Collinsville and eleven other high schools in Madison and St. Clair Counties. It may also allow additional schools to participate in CTE programs, helping develop a skilled workforce for local businesses.
The facility is being built at South Morrison and Caseyville Roads in Collinsville, across from both the current CAVC building and Collinsville High School campus.
“Once completed, the new and improved CAVC will serve as a bigger pipeline for the trades, service industry, education careers and healthcare occupations. Â The result will be more opportunities for students from Collinsville and eleven other area high schools in Madison and St. Clair Counties; the potential to include additional high schools in CTE education; and a skilled workforce for current and future businesses,” said officials involved with the project.
Harriss was elected as a Republican to represent Illinois’ 56th Senate District in 2023 after succeeding Kris Tharp.
