Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Miami Beach Senior High School to unveil a newly renovated $2.4 million Culinary Arts Lab.

“This is really an exciting day not only for us in the District, but for the community and more importantly for the students who are the future talent in this industry,” said M-DCPS Administrative Director of Career Technical Education Lupe Ferran Diaz, who called the event especially meaningful because she taught at the school for 17 years.

The new culinary lab’s amenities include a new chef instruction station with gas ranges, broilers, ovens, a griddle and commercial exhaust hoods. Additionally, there are five new student cooking stations with gas ranges, undercounter refrigerators, prep sinks, a walk-in freezer, two stainless steel sinks, as well as a professional dishwashing station.

To aid in their cooking lessons, students will also have a smartboard as well as a closed-circuit camera and television system for cooking instruction.

“I feel so honored being part of this amazing project,” said Saydel Laskar, a senior in the Culinary Arts program. “I love that before I graduate, I get to experience this amazing kitchen and that I’ll learn from an amazing chef who can teach me and help me with my future career in cooking.”

The Culinary Arts Program, part of the school’s Academy of Hospitality and Tourism Management, currently has 170 students who will benefit from the new state-of-the art lab. Carivon Construction was contracted to do the renovation of the professional-grade kitchen. This project was a partnership between M-DCPS and the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, which provided the kitchen equipment.

These school bond projects resulted from voter approval of the $1.2 billion General Obligation Bond in 2012. Funds from the bond are being used to modernize and construct school buildings throughout the District, expand student capacity, enhance facility safety, and provide technology upgrades at all schools.