WACC Cosmetology School & Salon Has Grand OpeningCommunity members attended the grand opening Tuesday of Warsaw Area Career Center’s cosmetology school and salon at Lakeview Middle School during its grand opening.
The public was allowed to go into the cosmetology school and get hand and scalp massages and tinseling, among other things.
Making its own cosmetology school has been a process, and for the parents and students, it’s been a long time coming, cosmetology instructor Tina Streby said. The grand opening allowed the public to come in and see the progress that has been made.
Streby said the cosmetology school was licensed officially Feb. 1.
In order to get the licensure, Streby said the salon and the classroom had to be revamped and bring the rooms up to state regulations. The fire marshal had to come in and inspect the school. An application had to filed with the state, which also inspected the space.
Before the 2022-23 school year, the cosmetology school was outsourced through Inspire. Since Inspire closed over the summer, Warsaw Community Schools decided to create its own cosmetology school and salon for students.
Streby said the salon and classroom was worked on during the 2022-23 school year while she taught theory at the high school.
WACC Principal/Director Ben Barkey said WCS having a cosmetology school of its own instead of outsourcing it gives the school corporation more control as far as equipment, books and opportunities for students.
The cosmetology is a two-year program at the WACC for juniors and seniors. Streby said she currently has 12 juniors and 12 seniors. Streby said she can have up to 20 students in each year and, for next year, she has 30 applicants just from the Warsaw area. Students are able to acquire hours and skills necessary to pass the state licensing exam to become a licensed cosmetologist when they graduate high school. To do so, students have to take five class periods in the program their junior year and three in their senior year.
From the grand opening, Streby said she hopes to bring awareness of the school and its services.
For the salon, hours in March are Monday through Friday, 12:30 to 4 p.m. After March, it will be Tuesday through Friday from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Students are able to get credit for everything they do in the salon to help them pass the state licensing exam.
Streby hopes the program will allow students to leave school have a career as soon as they graduate high school. The program opens doors for students who might not have had a door open for them before, she said.
Barkey said it was WACC’s goal that any student that comes through them will leave the WACC and benefit the community. The goal for the cosmetology program is to have every student in the program pass their state exam and become licensed cosmetologists.
Private cosmetology schools can cost at least $18,000. Students who go through the cosmetology program at the WACC don’t have the same costs. Barkey said there are some supply costs, but it’s nowhere near where a private cosmetology school would cost, and for parents, Barkey said it’s priceless.
“One of the things I learned about our cosmetology school is there is a strong need for stylists, so being able to provide that service for our students so they can reach their dreams, and for our community, is an awesome benefit for everyone,” he said.
