A new site for the Donaldson Career Center was purchased by Greenville County Schools for $1 million.

The 18.23-acre property for the new center is adjacent to Chapel Road near the Donaldson Airport, south of Greenville. The Board of Trustees approved the purchase of the property on Nov. 28. 

Donaldson Career Center was originally built in 1971 and renovated in 2005. It is located in the South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center at 100 Vocational Dr.

Facilities study

A need to rebuild the career center on a new site was identified in a 2021 facilities study conducted by the school system. In the report, Donaldson Career Center received one of the lowest assessments of the facilities studied. 

Tim Waller, spokesman for GCS, explained the career center’s current property is also too small for the type of programs the school system wants to provide. The school currently offers 13 programs including automotive technology, culinary arts, firefighting, welding and more. 

Construction of the new center is likely to begin in 2029 or 2030, Waller said.