Rockville High School's $1.7 Million Aquaculture Wing Now In Operation

VERNON, CT — Rockville's new aquaculture facility is up and running and was showcased at the school's annual open house Thursday night.

The facility is part of the RHS Agriculture Science And Technology Education Program and adds to the already-successful animal and plant science offerings. The aquaculture wing features a modern classroom, tanks for tilapia production (on the commercial end), along with turtle and tortoise habitats.

A pond out front serves as a ornamental fish habitat, another commercial possibility.

"And that can be a heck of a business," RHS principal Jason Magao said.

Magao said the aquaculture wind enhances and already solid ASTE program.

Vernon superintendent of schools Joseph Macary said it makes the ASTE program that much more diverse.

The total cost for the aquaculture lab was $1.7 million.

The project was entirely funded by the state grant money that Vernon receives for the ASTE program. No local funds were used.

The builder was 7 Summits Construction and STV was the project manager for the local schoool system.

Here is a peek at the new facility: