Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Gentile hails capital-improvement funds for O'Brien

Malloy announces $3.5M for upgrades at tech schools

HARTFORD -  Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said the State Bond Commission was scheduled to vote Wednesday afternoon on a $3.5 million allocation to be used to upgrade and modernize academic and trade equipment in programs throughout Connecticut’s technical high school system.
The bond funding will be allocated to individual schools based on the system’s capital equipment and improvement plan, which was approved by the Connecticut State Board of Education in May. 

The plan prioritizes key investments throughout the system in areas such as trade and academic equipment purchases, expansion of manufacturing programming, and technology and infrastructure improvements.
“On my Jobs Tour last year, I heard time and again from employers about the need for skilled labor, particularly in precision manufacturing,” Malloy said.
“At a time when many of our residents are looking for work, it’s frustrating to know that positions are available, but we don’t always have the workforce necessary to fill them.  The funding we are allocating to Connecticut’s technical schools will help students learn the latest techniques on the newest equipment so they can have the opportunity to fill some of these open positions and secure a good paying job with good benefits.”
State Rep. Linda M. Gentile, D-Ansonia, said, "These funds will go a long way in providing necessary capital improvements that have been needed for a very long time at O'Brien Tech.
"As a state school, it is our responsibility to make sure we are providing a safe learning environment for the students who choose to attend technical schools like Emmett O'Brien."
 
Connecticut Department of Education Commissioner Stefan Pryor said, “As a high-quality public school option for students in Connecticut, technical high schools provide coursework and training that helps graduates compete in our global economy.  These investments will add to the momentum created by reforms in the Governor’s education package that establish a new model for technical school governance and strengthen the pipeline to Connecticut’s leading employers.

Connecticut’s technical high school system currently operates 16 degree-granting technical high schools, one technical education center, and two aviation maintenance programs serving approximately 11,200 full-time high school and adult day students, with comprehensive education and training in 36 occupational areas and 2,000 apprenticeship students.
High school students receive a college preparatory curriculum and earn a Connecticut high school diploma as well as a certificate in a specific trade technology.

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