NORTHAMPTON — Northampton High School was one of 65 high schools, colleges and educational institutions across the state that received a Skills Capital Grant from the Healey-Driscoll administration.
According to Northampton High School Principal Bill Wehrli, the school received $186,000 from the state for equipment to support the wood technology and engineering programs at the school. Wehrli said he wrote the grant last year.
“The purpose of this project is to provide students at Northampton High School with access to equipment in wood/materials technology and engineering that align with industry standards and support students’ development,” Wehrli said. “We seek to build students’ skills and knowledge in technical fields and provide opportunities for the exploration of career and educational pathways that lead to high-demand jobs in our area.”
Wehrli said that the facilities at the school are out-of-date and do not reflect industry standards.
“By updating the equipment and facilities we will be able to provide more specific experiences with safety, design, production processes and career exploration to enhance students’ knowledge, understanding, skills and dispositions that are necessary for success while creating interest and enthusiasm for pursuing careers in related fields,” Wehrli said. “This will also position us to develop more robust career pathway programming for students in the coming years.”
According to a press release from the state, the skills capital grant funding will support schools and institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young adults and increase capacity in workforce training programs across Massachusetts.
“We want to ensure that what students learn in school helps them get where they want to go, while also meeting our workforce needs,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “These Skills Capital grants will ensure our students and adult learners have access to innovative technology, equipment and spaces to gain the skills they need to prepare them for successful careers in high demand industries.”
According to the state, the skills capital grants are awarded by the state’s Workforce Skills Cabinet brings together the Secretariats of Education, Labor and Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services.
The grants are awarded to institutions that demonstrate partnerships with local businesses, as well as align curriculum and credentials with industry demand to maximize hiring opportunities.
