Colleagues,
The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators is pleased to announce that it presented James Poplasky with MAVA Recognition Award.
David
John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC
PR for Police,
MAVA Presents James Poplasky with Recognition Award
November 7, 2022 Matthew Reid Client News, School News
Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators President Dr. Andrew Linkenhoker presents the MAVA Recognition Award to Skills Capital Grant Manager James Poplasky.
MARLBOROUGH — The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) is pleased to announce that the association presented James Poplasky with the MAVA Recognition Award at its general membership meeting recently.
At the meeting held on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlborough, MAVA President and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Superintendent Dr. Andrew Linkenhoker presented the award to Poplasky, who serves as the Skills Capital Grant Manager for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Education.
The award was presented as an acknowledgment of Poplasky’s leadership and dedication to the Skills Capital Grant program and all it does for vocational and technical education in Massachusetts.
“The Skills Capital Grant program is instrumental to us as we provide our students with state-of-the-art equipment, and as Skills Capital Grant Manager, James’ guidance and cooperation allows our schools to acquire cutting-edge technology,” Superintendent Linkenhoker said. “His knowledge and expertise have earned our deepest respect, admiration and gratitude, and we are so glad to present this award to him.”
The Skills Capital Grant Program awards grants to schools across the state 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 program began with approximately $6-$12 million per year in bond capital in 2016-2017. In the 2018 Economic Development Bond Bill, the State Legislature increased the bond capital to $15 million for 5 years for a total of $75 million, and in 2022 the Legislature reauthorized the program at $20 million for 5 years for a total of $100 million.
The success of the Skills Capital Grant Program has allowed for approximately 450 individual grants to be awarded. As Skills Capital Grant Manager, Poplasky assists schools in applying for and securing these grant awards. He said he was drawn to the program because it was innovative, outside of normal funding formulas, and impactful.
“Supplying updated equipment to train students across the commonwealth is a terrific idea that has been so well supported. This award is the first of its kind that the Skills Capital Grant Program has received, and I accept it on behalf of everyone who works so tirelessly behind the scenes to make the program as successful as it is,” Poplasky said. “We have been extremely fortunate to have so much support from the State Legislature and the Baker-Polito Administration and will continue to help promote vocational and technical education in Massachusetts.”
To learn more about the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program, click here.
About the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators
MAVA is a statewide non-profit organization that advocates for high-quality vocational-technical and agricultural education. The Association includes 59 member schools, including regional vocational technical high schools, agricultural schools, independent schools, city vocational schools, an educational collaborative, academic high schools, and comprehensive high schools. All offer at least one state-approved Chapter 74 vocational technical education program. To learn more, click here.
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
