The Contoocook Valley, Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative and Mascenic School Districts are pleased to announce that the Region 14 Applied Technology Center (ATC) was recently awarded a $37,000 grant. The $37,000 grant from the New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) will benefit ATC’s Construction Trades Program.
Funding will go toward student training and certification fees for the OSHA 10 course, which teaches students the basics of occupational safety and health.
Additionally, the districts will use the funding to purchase virtual reality equipment and software, which will allow students to gain hands-on practice and explore various trades virtually. Funding also will go toward the purchase of National Center for Construction Education and Research textbooks.
Through the Construction Trades Program, students explore several different career paths, while learning foundational safety skills necessary for those trades. As they advance, students can choose from a variety of introductory courses that interest them, including carpentry, masonry, HVAC, electrical and plumbing.
“This funding will help us to strengthen our program and make it possible for students to make educated decisions about which career paths interest and suit them,” Conval Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders said.
Funding must be used to accomplish the following priorities:
- Expand access to and attainment of industry-recognized credentials, such as OSHA 10 and Interplay Learning certificates.
- Promote the sustainability of the program through contributions matched by employers.
- Broaden work-based learning experiences.
“There is a wealth of employment opportunities in the construction trades field, and this funding will go a long way in providing students with the support and training needed to be successful in their future careers,” Jaffrey-Rindge Superintendent Reuben Duncan said.
Added Mascenic Superintendent Chris Martin, “Thank you to the New Hampshire Department of Education for this funding and for their continued support of career technical education programs.”