Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative based in downtown Frankfort on the Davidson Campus in the former Ivy Tech Building is growing but faces financial uncertainties that put the future structure and even the location in question.
The Career Cooperative at 251 E. Clinton Street in Frankfort partners with area businesses and industry to promote workplace learning programs. Students learn trades in over 20 areas such as HVAC or Construction while earning duel credits with Ivy Tech and their own High School. Currently Frankfort, Clinton Prairie, Clinton Central and Rossville students are earning credit at the Career Cooperative.
23 Career Tech Partners are aligned and engaged with Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative where students receive work-based learning, duel credits and preparation for future employment. 23 different pathways are offered:
- Advanced Manufacturing/Industrial Maintenance
- Ag Mechanical
- Agriscience: Plants & Animals
- Automotive Services
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration
- Construction Trades: Carpentry & Civil
- Cosmetology
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Digital Design
- Early Childhood Education
- Education Professions
- Engineering
- Finance
- Health Sciences: EMS & CNA
- Human & Social Services
- Information Technology
- Marketing
- Precision Agriculture
- Radio/TV Broadcasting
- Supply Chain and Logistics
- Welding Technology
The Student count at the Career Center in Clinton County has risen over a four year period:
2022-23: 85 students
2023-24: 120 students
2024-25: 140 students
2025-26: 220 students (projected)
Georgia Everett, Cooperative Director, spoke at Frankfort Rotary June 5 and laid out the successes and challenges of this public education option for area students from Frankfort, Clinton Prairie, Clinton Central and Rossville Schools.
Donaldson Campus/Kaspar Hall is owned by the City of Frankfort and Clinton County governments. The City and County are currently leasing the Davidson Campus to Ivy Tech. That lease will run out in the summer of 2026 and Ivy Tech is not interested in renewing the lease. Since Ivy Tech has been paying operational expenses of the Campus, that funding will soon no longer exist. This will create a budgetary shortfall of about $100,000 according to Everett. It is not known at this time how this $100,000 shortfall will be filled.
Currently the student/school breakdown is approximately as follows:
SCHOOL % of Students this year % of Students Next year
Frankfort High School: 64.6% 69.6%
Rossville High School: 8% 6.5%
Clinton Prairie: 22.7% 14%
Clinton Central: 5% 9.8%
The annual budget for Wildcat Creek Career Cooperative is approximately $300,000 annually. Administrative funding is approximately $200,000 annually plus the additional operational (brick and mortar, maintenance, utilities, etc.) expenses currently paid by Ivy Tech but soon disappearing is approximately $100,000. This leaves a funding gap of about $25,000 per school, or $100,000 by any other formula used, whether by student percentage, usage hours, business/industry supplement or any other means or apportionment that may (or may not) be implemented.
To further complicate matters, engineering firm KKG submitted a study on the Davidson Campus/Kaspar Hall facility. According to that recent study, needed HVAC, external building tuckpoint, updates and needed maintenance work, development of welding classrooms in basement, and other maintenance and development costs range from 1.5 MM (for essentials) up to 3.5 MM (including enhanced and desired classroom development).
There is some interest from Community Schools of Frankfort to leave the Davidson Campus and move all Frankfort Students to the High School. This would reduce operational expenses for Frankfort by using existing infrastructure on the Maish Road Campus. This possible move may conceivably shift future operational expenses to Clinton Central, Rossville and Clinton Prairie if these schools choose to remain at the Downtown Frankfort Campus unless some other kind of support can be found.
This remains a fluid situation and possible ideas and options for funding of those options are in discussion with schools, city and county governments, community leaders, Clinton County Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders.
WILO 96.9 FM, WILO 1570 AM and Boone 102.7 FM hopes to have Georgia Everett, Superintendents and others on the air to help parents, past donors, taxpayers, voters and area industry and businesses understand some of the opportunities, expenses and options available to serve the students and help them build their futures in this important and growing segment of education.