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Date: 12/14/2022
HUNTINGTON – Gateway Regional High School is partnering with area towns and businesses on finding internships for students interested in starting a career path.
Martha Clark, director of student programs, said the school is looking at different Chapter 74-approved technical education training options. The school already offers a welding and early education and care program that have received Chapter 74 status.
Recently, Clark spoke to the Chester Board of Selectmen about a new career track in the works. Clark said the administration had met with the Chester Water Commission, and looked at the employment market, and saw that water operator positions are in demand.
“Looking at this, we got the information out to current seniors, and found six who are interested in a career path out of high school, one who wants to become an engineer,” Clark said.
The students took a tour of the Chester plant and the Blandford plant, and spoke to water operators.
“The school is now working with a Springfield Technical Community College professor about taking a course to become certified as a water operator in training, which will allow them to go right to work when they graduate,” Clark said.
Working with the town of Chester, the school also applied for and received a $59,500 grant to pay for internships in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. Clark said the students will get paid for internships through the grant.
“The towns will pay them and get reimbursed,” she said.
In addition to getting paid, students will get science credits and up to 100 hours from the internship towards certification.
Selectmen Chair John Baldasaro said the program is great because it is meeting a need.
“For years, there has been a [water operator] shortage across the state,” he said, adding that next year juniors will be recruited for the program.
Board members said towns also need highway workers and weights and measures inspectors.
“There are a whole lot of those jobs,” Baldasaro said.
Clark said students are interested in several new career-training tracks, including animal science, dental and medical and electrical. The Gateway dental clinic, Gator Grins, will have internship opportunities through the program. The school is also building a relationship with Elm Electrical in Westfield.
Senior Liam Bowler, who wants to be a veterinarian, is already working as a volunteer intern at Blandford Animal Hospital under Dr. Hazel Holman. He said his family bred Labrador retrievers for years, and he wants to continue to work with dogs.
“I want to help families keep their best friends,” Bowles said.
Clark said Bowles would be eligible for a paid internship through the program in the spring, although he said baseball season might provide a conflict for the spring internships.
Over the summer, Gateway received a 21st Century Grant of $210,000 a year for five years to offer free summer programs for middle school students and recently received another grant of $84,000 for free wraparound programs, in addition to the free preschool they have been able to offer.
“Superintendent Kristen Smidy is leading us to do all of this,” Clark said.