Grafton High School receives donation for Industrial Arts program

Thanks to a generous donation from a chapter of the International Carpenters Union, the soon-to-be-expanded industrial arts facility at Grafton High School will have new tools and equipment to use.

Local carpenters unions and the North Central States Regional Carpenters Council donated approximately $ 7,000 for new tools and materials, including 25 hard hats. A dust collector was also offered by Boldt Construction.

The idea came from Harold Klug, a retired carpenter who is also an alumnus of Grafton High School. He has worked to improve the school’s industrial education curriculum and brought it to the attention of the locals of the carpenters union, according to Doug Volland, sales representative for the Central States Regional Carpenters Council. -North. Volland said locals raised $ 3,500 of the total costs. The regional council agreed to match it.

“Now that they have the referendum (past) and they’re going to add another store, we wanted to make sure they were equipped with certain tools,” Volland said. “We are definitely investing in these kids because these kids are the future apprentices through programs like this. They are the future of the industry.”

“Because this school is my school, I wanted to give back and teach,” Klug said. “It saved our program. It keeps it going, and it gives young people a chance to come to our apprenticeship program (referring to the Regional Council program).”

The program was operated with obsolete and insufficient equipment. According to Kevin Gain, a technical education professor at Grafton, the donations have eased the burden on the department to support its students.

“Now we can get a little better, more durable equipment with the dollars saved from the donation,” said Gain.

Some of the equipment provided included additional cordless drills, which Gain said was excited by the students.

“We are getting equipment that will make it a much more efficient shop. Between saws and pneumatic nailers it will be a lot less upright, a lot more efficient, and kids can do a lot more quality work. “said Gain.

It was also an opportunity for Volland to discuss with students the opportunities offered by the trades, as well as through the Regional Council of Carpenters of the North Central States. Additionally, Volland mentioned a program developed for high school students through the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

“It’s actually very high quality material. It starts with a very rudimentary ending and progresses over the course of four years. With that kind of program – and I think we’re in about 30 schools in Wisconsin, 30 school systems. different I should say – we’re really trying to nurture the next generation of our craft, ”Volland said.