District 215 breaks ground on new Cosmetology and Barber Studio

BY JIM MASTERS

LANSING, Ill. (April 23, 2021) – It was about a year ago when Thornton Fractional South School District 215 was about to sign a five-year contract with an outside vendor to provide cosmetology and barber school training to students.

But school officials thought there was a better way, and decided against the contract. On Thursday, they gathered at TF North High School to officially break ground on District 215’s new Cosmetology/Barber Studio.

Increasing opportunities for students

Located in a space formerly used as an auto shop, the area will be outfitted with all the amenities needed to provide students with an education leading to certification as a licensed cosmetologist or barber. The district’s auto mechanics program is moving to the Thornton Fractional Center for Academics and Technology. Accordingly, TF South students enrolled in the cosmetology/barbering program will be bused to TF North.

Superintendent Dr. Sophia Jones-Redmond said the Cosmetology/Barber Studio will give graduates the credentials to earn a livable wage right out of high school. Center for Academics and Technology Director John Robinzine added that the studio will be state-of-the-art, and was pleased that District 215 kept the program in-house.

“We’re dreaming big and thinking big,” he said.

Barbering and cosmetology program details

Up to 22 current sophomores will be selected for the inaugural class in the fall. The students must complete 1,500 clinical hours during their junior and senior years to earn their certifications. They will spend their weekday mornings at the studio, as well as some weekends and summer hours.

The new program will emphasize essential salon and barbering services and techniques. Customer service, client retention, salon retailing, marketing, and people skills will also be part of the instruction.

On March 23, the District 215 Board of Education approved an $828,000 bid from Complete Construction Resources of Chicago Heights, Ill. to reconstruct the approximately 2,000-square-foot space at TF North. The project is expected to be completed by August 10.

TF North is located at 755 Pulaski Road, Calumet City, IL.

Related

• Barbering and cosmetology training available for District 215 students in the fall (March 27, 2021)
• South Suburban College to open barber school in spring semester (November 23, 2020)