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Date: 7/31/2019
WEST SPRINGFIELD/AGAWAM – Agawam and West Springfield High Schools will launch a unique program this fall, which will offer students the chance to explore the advanced manufacturing career field before graduation.
The Baker-Polito Administration announced Agawam’s Innovation Pathways program on July 19 in a news release. The administration also announced three other schools, located on the eastern side of the state, will launch Innovation Pathway programs beginning at the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
Not named in the press release, but also starting an Innovation Pathways program is West Springfield High School. West Springfield Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Timothy Connor, told Reminder Publishing, the school received their designation the same time Agawam High School did.
Innovation Pathways, according to the new release, was launched in 2017 and designed to give students experience in specific high-demand industries. Some industries include information technology, engineering, healthcare, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing.
Both Agawam and West Springfield will be launching the program for advanced manufacturing. When fully enrolled, Agawam’s program is expected to serve 466 students. However, Superintendent of Agawam Public Schools Steve Lemanski said the number of students may end up being slightly smaller, as 466 was an original estimate.
The West Springfield program currently has 60 students enrolled, but Connor said the school has a target of having 100 students registered by Sept. 20.
The program allows students to earn college credits for free, gain knowledge and skills, and figure out whether the field is one they wish to pursue in college or as a career. According to the Massachusetts Department of Education website, Innovation Pathways does this through creating partnerships with employers in the area.
Students from both schools will take classes for the program at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC). The schools will also work with the MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board.
Agawam High School is also partnering with the Western Mass. Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association, Peerless Precision, Governor's America Corporation, Mechanical Plastics, OMG Roofing Products, Ben Franklin Manufacturing, EBTEC Corporation, and DFF Corporation.
The partnerships, Lemanski said, were helpful to “...help design the program and build curriculum to support students in this endeavor.” Lemanski added, the school is hoping to train students in all aspects of the field, including the business side of manufacturing, design, engineering, hands-on application, and promotions.
Also like Agawam High School, West Springfield is working with local employers such as Ben Franklin Design, Advance Welding, Peerless Precision, Jarvis Surgical, and Advance Manufacturing.
West Springfield Program Director, Wesley Carter, said throughout the school year employers will conduct mock interviews and give students in the program feedback on in-class projects.
As of June 7, a total of 20 schools across the state had been named Innovation Pathways designees. In addition to Agawam and West Springfield, only two other high schools in Western Massachusetts have Innovation Pathways programs, Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington and Northampton High School.
Lemanski expressed excitement in Agawam High School’s new endeavour, and hopes eventually it will grow to something more.
“We are looking at Advanced Manufacturing as a first step in connecting our students with careers,” Lemanski told Reminder Publishing. “We are hoping to create additional pathways so we reach more students. This is an exciting first step for the Agawam Public Schools.”