Winchendon Weekly News -- October 5, 2023

From the Desk of Dr. Goguen - Superintendant's Update October 11, 2023

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Enroll Your Child in Head Start

Enrollment is now open for the Winchendon Head Start program. The Pre-School program has many openings for local families. For complete information, see one of the flyers linked below:

Head Start (English)

Head Start (Español)

Monty Tech to Expand Free Training Opportunity Thanks to Recent Grant Award

Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $10 Million to Expand Career Technical Training Opportunities for More Than 1,200 Young People and Adults

FITCHBURG - On October 5, 2023, Monty Tech officials traveled to South Shore Vocational Technical High School in Hanover, MA, where they were among leaders from 17 other schools across the Commonwealth, who would be awarded Career Technical Initiative (CTI) grants, to train individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors. The Healy-Driscoll Administration announced $10,144,414 in awards, allocating a generous $720,000 to Monty Tech.

"CTI grants are critical to our region's workforce training initiatives," said Thomas R. Browne, school Superintendent. "These awards allow us to not only offer no-cost training to qualified individuals, but they also encourage business partners to consider their immediate workforce needs, and work closely with our Continuing Education program, to recruit new hires right from these 200-hour certification programs."

The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with vocational high schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms vocational high schools across the Commonwealth to become "Career Technical Institutes," offering skill-building and certification programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and various career pathways.

"We have been fortunate to benefit from Commonwealth Corporation's generous CTI grants, having received more than $1.6M to expand our training programs, serving area adult learners who are interested in developing the skills needed to start a new career," stated Trish Woodliff, Director of Monty Tech's School of Continuing Education. "Round 8 begins January 2024, and will feature training programs in Plumbing, HVAC and Carpentry. MassHire North Central, our partner in this endeavor, has been outstanding to work with, helping us recruit and vet participants, conduct employability workshops and aid in our job placement efforts. This partnership, in conjunction with this extremely generous financial award, is making a difference for North Central Massachusetts," continued Woodliff.

"Programs like these are vital to achieving our workforce development goals and building the talent pipelines and career pathways we need for a strong Massachusetts economy," said Governor Healey. "It's critical that we match skills training and labor demand to support our workers, employers, economy and competitiveness."

"Massachusetts is known for its educational institutions, and our vocational schools are no exception," said Lieutenant Governor Driscoll. "Utilizing our incredible vocational schools, this program is able to help individuals receive vital job training in critical industries and helps expand our skilled talent pool for employers."

The CTI program is a signature program of the Governor's Workforce Skills Cabinet (WSC), chaired by the Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, in collaboration with the Executive Offices of Education, Economic Development, and Health and Human Services.

"It is a priority of the Healey-Driscoll administration to promote broad and equitable access to career and technical education for all of our students and families. Our Career Technical Initiatives help us do that by harnessing the equipment and physical resources housed in our vocational high schools to power the reskilling and relearning of our workforce, and I'm proud that the state has delivered more than ten million dollars to continue this critical workforce effort across the Commonwealth," said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.

Since 2020, more than $16.8 million in funding has been awarded through CTI grants. The CTI Program is administered by Commonwealth Corporation, a quasi-public state agency under the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) that administers EOLWD grant funding and fosters partnerships between industry, education, and workforce organizations. Each CTI proposal was required to include a minimum of three Massachusetts based employer partners that would potentially employ the target occupation and commit to interview and hire graduates. This will be the eighth set of programs funded by the Career Technical Initiative.

Mount Wachusett Community College Celebrates Expansion of Nursing Simulation Laboratory

GARDNER, MA - October 12, 2023 - On Monday, October 2, Mount Wachusett Community College leadership, staff, and faculty were joined by local legislators and business leaders to celebrate the completion of the college's nursing simulation laboratory expansion.

"This is a turbulent time for healthcare in this country, but programs like this are a shining spot on the map," Representative Jon Zlotnik shared on behalf of himself and Representative Natalie Higgins. "This program has produced many fine healthcare professionals to do the important work that our community needs. Of all the challenges we face, the one that is in our control is the staffing shortage, and the Mount has continually stepped up to deliver quality professionals to fill the roles that are so important to both our health and our quality of life here in Central Massachusetts."

"On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, I would like to thank the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education for the Mass Skills Capital Grant which made this simulation expansion possible," noted Kim Shea, Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences. "Through the use of high-fidelity simulation, MWCC's nursing students now have the ability to practice hands on clinical skills they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience in the traditional clinical setting."

The simulation laboratory enables nursing students to learn in a safe practice environment and provides a more equitable set of clinical experiences for all. The laboratory has elements of a typical hospital ward and includes pediatric and maternity simulations, as well as a home care simulation where resident "Millie" lives.

The project was funded by a Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workforce Skills Cabinet (Executive Office of Education. The Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program was developed by the Commonwealth for the purchase and installation of equipment and related improvements and renovations necessary for the installation and use of such equipment to support vocational and technical training. The equipment is intended to upgrade and expand career technical education and training programs that are aligned to regional economic and workforce development priorities for in-demand industries.

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Monty Tech Named 2023 Mass Save® Climate Leader for Outstanding Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Recognition highlights Monty Tech's continued efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and leading the state to a clean energy future

Fitchburg, MA (October 4, 2023) - Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School ("Monty Tech") is pleased to announce it has been selected as a 2023 Mass Save® Climate Leader. Monty Tech is one of only fourteen commercial and industrial organizations across the Commonwealth to receive this distinguished recognition.

"To be recognized among large post-secondary institutions like Boston University and Northeastern University, as well as statewide businesses like the Shaw's Corporation with its 55 supermarkets in Massachusetts, is an incredible honor. We truly appreciate MassSave's recognition of our district's steadfast commitment to improving energy efficiencies in order to foster a healthy climate across our region," stated Thomas R. Browne, school Superintendent.

The Sponsors of Mass Save selected this group of Climate Leaders based on a variety of factors including the total energy savings achieved over the past few years, the historical level of energy savings relative to energy consumption, and the frequency and diversity of energy efficiency investments. Facilities Director, Michael Gormley, has led district-wide improvement efforts and continues to seek creative means to reduce energy consumption, while providing a safe and comfortable space to work and learn in. "Monty Tech is a large facility, serving thousands of people daily. With an eye toward long-term fiscal responsibility and critical energy efficiency investments, I am proud to say we are among these climate leaders in Massachusetts," noted Gormley.

Monty Tech has leveraged the financial and technical support provided by the Sponsors of Mass Save to make meaningful investments in energy efficiency and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Specific projects include:

• Achievement of approximately 1,000 lifetime MWh through the installation of improved lighting, HVAC systems, make up air systems, VSD motors and controls, and site-specific automated control strategies
• Instruction to students to help implement measures to reduce overall consumption on campus, translating to effective strategy management in their chosen construction-related fields

"Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School has made numerous investments over the last two decades to improve energy and operational efficiency in their facilities, creating incredible savings through installations," Alec O'Meara, Media Relations Manager, from Unitil. "The school has also invested in its students, providing instruction which will translate to effective implementation in their chosen construction fields as the state looks to create a clean energy future."

Mass Save® is a collaborative of Massachusetts' electric and natural gas utilities and energy efficiency service providers including Berkshire Gas, Cape Light Compact, Eversource, Liberty, National Grid, and Unitil. We empower residents, businesses, and communities to make energy efficient upgrades by offering a wide range of services, rebates, incentives, trainings, and information.