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District showcases student projects, co-op growth and industry credentials in monthly Artisan Report
Summary
Superintendent and district staff reviewed the Artisan Report highlighting program activities across academies, cooperative education growth (over 240 students currently on co-op), industry certifications and building/technical projects including an engineering team study of a 1,600-watt roof-mounted wind turbine.
District staff presented the monthly “Artisan Report” during the March 11 Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical School Committee meeting, summarizing academic and career-technical (CTE) program activities across academies and highlighting cooperative-education placements and credentialing.
The report, presented by staff substituting for Principal Williams, listed program-specific items: automotive technical demonstrations and college visits; cosmetology seniors doing client services with 14 seniors reported to have passed the state licensing exam; diesel students completing OSHA 10 and pursuing ACE brake certification; marine-technology freshmen building fiberglass models and an all-time high freshman count (17); architectural and mechanical design students collaborating with metal fab to renovate workspace and install downdraft welding tables; and engineering/robotics seniors designing a support structure for a 1,600-watt wind turbine to be mounted above their shop.
District staff said the cooperative-education program has grown substantially: more than 240 students were reported out on cooperative education and over 40 in placement transitioning to co-op. The presenter noted seniors’ cooperative placements and said the program’s students have generated meaningful employer value; at one point the presenter said students had “just hit the $1,000,000” mark for a tracked cycle metric. Staff also highlighted that junior and senior students in stationary engineering are preparing the school’s high-pressure boiler for required internal inspection.
Attendance and student supports were included: the report cited over 96% approval on attendance highlights and ongoing attention to chronic absenteeism through guidance and social-emotional supports. The report also detailed middle-school outreach and open-house activity that the district called an important step in student recruitment and collaboration with New Bedford Public Schools and Superintendent O’Leary.
Why it matters: the report illustrates hands-on learning, rising co-op participation and credentialing that feed local workforce pipelines. Staff asked the committee to note ongoing partnerships with industry, higher education and advisory boards; several members affirmed that these program outcomes align with regional employer needs.
Next steps: staff will continue to share Artisan reports and weekly updates; the superintendent said aspects of the report will feed into the April budget presentation and continuing district planning.
