PALMER — Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Eric Duda announced that Pathfinder Tech was awarded a historic $1.25 million grant from the state, the largest in the school’s history.
Duda said the grants will help enhance the electrical and horticulture program.
He emphasized, “Investing in career and technical education is crucial for preparing our students for successful futures. This grant will enhance two programs and ease financial burdens on local taxpayers, ensuring our students receive exceptional training and resources.”
This funding will allow for a complete renovation of the electrical program, including brand-new floors, walls, mock house, tools and equipment.
These upgrades will allow the electrical program to expand and help meet the vital need for increased capacity, as the electrical program has been the top choice for freshman exploratory studies for three consecutive years.
In addition to enhancements in the electrical program, the grant will also support significant improvements to the horticulture program.
Upgrades will include revitalized greenhouses, new equipment and investments in modern technology which are essential components for the continued success of this program, which has long needed substantial and expensive upgrades, according to Duda.
This grant award is more than double the district’s previous largest awards, which were allocated for the establishment of the plumbing program and a comprehensive overhaul of the HVAC program, each valued at just under $500,000.
Duda talked about the process for securing this competitive grant and called it “collaborative” effort and involved “the dedicated efforts of administrators, teachers, and business partners.”
“We extend our gratitude to Gov. [Maura] Healey and her administration, Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler and Assistant Secretary for Career Education Bob LePage for their support of career and technical education, as well as to all legislators who played a role in making this funding possible,” Duda said.
The mission of Pathfinder Tech is “To establish an educational community, anchored in rigorous and diverse academic and technical experiences, that ensures every student realizes their full potential and emerges as a responsible, engaged, and contributing member of society,” according to its website.
They offer around 16 different vocational programs for high school students to gather technical education and the school is made up of nine towns, Belchertown, Monson, New Braintree, Palmer, Ware, Granby, Hardwick, Warren and Oakham.
This investment in career technical education is a testament to a shared commitment to training career-ready students, whether it’s directly into the workforce upon graduation from high school or if they decide to pursue post-secondary education to ultimately enter the career of their choosing.
Duda talked more about the investment and said, “With this grant, we aim to increase capacity, allowing us to offer more seats to students seeking training in these critical fields while providing them a well-equipped and appropriate space for training.”
There has been a continued demand to grow career and technical education, specifically at Pathfinder Tech from the nine towns that make up the district, and this funding represents a small step toward addressing the larger capacity challenges, according to Duda.
Pathfinder Tech goal is to eventually open its doors wider by expanding its capacity to accommodate the growing number of eighth-grade students who apply each year to Pathfinder Tech in pursuit of career and technical education.
The number of applicants each year continues to far exceed the available seats. In addition to upgrading tools and equipment, Duda said they are committed to exploring ways to expand their square footage and make Pathfinder Tech more accessible to those who desire this model of education for their high school experience.
