Education and workforce preparation have changed mightily in recent years with new technologies and new needs.

While it takes planning, effort and resources to accommodate the new reality, to not do so would be a disservice to our children.

That is why a Wednesday unveiling in Bowling Green was a milestone event.

Gov. Andy Beshear was on hand as the Bowling Green Independent Schools’ new Career and Technical Education Building was officially opened.

The 19,000-square-foot facility is located on the Bowling Green High School campus. Inside are the new Little Purples Academy Childcare Center, the BGHS Industrial Maintenance Department and the BGISD Technology Department.

Students, while still in high school, can learn valuable career skills in a variety of fields at the CTE.

“You ought to be really proud of what you’ve built here: a state of the art facility where students on different pathways are going to be able to work with each other, encourage each other, where we bring dignity to every single pathway that’s there, and no matter what these students dream of doing, we provide them the tools to be successful,” Gov. Andy Beshear told the assembled crowd Wednesday.

“The building is going to give our students hands-on opportunities that they previously didn’t have before in industry, to include experiences in industrial maintenance, HVAC, computer networking and early childhood education,” BGHS Principal Kyle McGraw said. “And we’re really excited about it opening up.”

We echo that excitement and commend the school district and local leaders for working to bring it to reality.