Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education,
We are excited to share this wonderful news as Secretary Tutwiler visited McCann Technical High School in North Adams to celebrate its new HVAC lab that was supported by a $3.1 million Skills Capital equipment grant.
In addition to the HVAC lab, the Secretary toured the advance manufacturing, metal fabrication, and computer assisted design shops. The Skills Capital funding was used to construct a 5,580 square-foot HVAC building that will provide HVAC technician training to an estimated 100 students each year, including career and technical education students, regional public-school students through their “After Dark” partnership program, as well as adult learners in the evening. The Berkshire County Workforce Blueprint identified HVAC technicians as a critical workforce need and prior to this funding there was no HVAC technician training program in the county.
The opening of this HVAC training facility is a perfect example of the public/private partnership in the Commonwealth. We thank the Governor and Secretary Tutwiler for their multi-million dollar Skills Capital Grant, Representative John Barrett for his grant enabling us to hire an instructor and develop a curriculum and for our HVAC industry partners who provided not only their expertise but the equipment necessary for training our students,” said Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District Superintendent James Brosnan.
“The opening of this HVAC training facility is a perfect example of the public/private partnership in the Commonwealth. We thank the Governor and Secretary Tutwiler for their multi-million dollar Skills Capital Grant, Representative John Barrett for his grant enabling us to hire an instructor and develop a curriculum and for our HVAC industry partners who provided not only their expertise but the equipment necessary for training our students,” said Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District Superintendent James Brosnan.
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October 23, 2024 Healey-Driscoll Administration Celebrates STEM Week in Western Massachusetts Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler Visits Clarksburg Elementary School and McCann Technical High School in North Adams
Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler visits with McCann Technical High School students. (Photos by Alana Davidson) CLARKSBURG – Secretary of Education Patrick Tutwiler was in Western Massachusetts today as part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s STEM Week. Taking place from October 21–25, 2024, STEM Week highlights the importance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers, reinforcing the message that STEM learning can start at any age and plays a crucial role in shaping the future workforce of the state. “It is great to be traveling across Massachusetts this week in celebration of STEM week and to be in Western Mass today to learn from students how they are engaging in STEM and applying those skills and knowledge to real world problems,” said Education Secretary Dr. Patrick Tutwiler. “I congratulate McCann Technical on their new HVAC lab that will address a real workforce need in the community and provide students with the tools and education to be successful in this high-needs field. Secretary Tutwiler visited McCann Technical High School in North Adams to celebrate its new HVAC lab that was supported by a $3.1 million Skills Capital equipment grant. In addition to the HVAC lab, the Secretary toured the advance manufacturing, metal fabrication, and computer assisted design shops. The Skills Capital funding was used to construct a 5,580 square-foot HVAC building that will provide HVAC technician training to an estimated 100 students each year, including career and technical education students, regional public-school students through their “After Dark” partnership program, as well as adult learners in the evening. The Berkshire County Workforce Blueprint identified HVAC technicians as a critical workforce need and prior to this funding there was no HVAC technician training program in the county. The school district also recently received a $50,000 Career Technical Initiative (CTI) planning grant from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. They will use the funding, in partnership with Pittsfield Public Schools and collaboration with the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and MassHire Berkshire Career Center, to prepare and design adult training in automotive technology, advanced manufacturing, and welding. 
Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler visits with McCann Technical High School students and helps celebrate the school’s new HVAC lab. “The Administration is working to close the workforce skills gap and grant programs like Career Technical Initiative (CTI) help provide an opportunity to train and prepare jobseekers, including adult learners, for current workforce demands,” said Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones. “I look forward to continuing our partnership with career and technical education schools like McCann Technical High School, employers across the state, and labor to promote STEM pathways and pave the way for more jobseekers to gain meaningful skills and employment right here in Massachusetts.” “I am pleased that McCann received a State Skills Capital Grant for the creation of the new HVAC curriculum. In the coming years, graduates from the HVAC program will fill essential jobs, contributing to the future growth of Berkshire County’s economy,” said Representative John Barrett III (D-North Adams). “The opening of this HVAC training facility is a perfect example of the public/private partnership in the Commonwealth. We thank the Governor and Secretary Tutwiler for their multi-million dollar Skills Capital Grant, Representative John Barrett for his grant enabling us to hire an instructor and develop a curriculum and for our HVAC industry partners who provided not only their expertise but the equipment necessary for training our students,” said Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District Superintendent James Brosnan. “McCann Tech is an invaluable resource for workforce development in the Berkshires. With the new HVAC curriculum and training facility, a critical need in the trades will be addressed and contribute to further regional economic development. Congratulations to Superintendent Brosnan , his team and the Advisory Committee on this accomplishment,” said Adams Town Administrator Jay R. Green. Massachusetts Executive Office of Education |
