A $200,000 anonymous donation to George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill will help invigorate the school’s technical education program, according to a school official.
The money is to be paid in four installments over four years, according to GSA Head of School Dan Welch.
The nonprofit academy currently offers a variety of introductory level classes in welding, woodworking, small engine repair and a few other technical subjects, but the recently donated funds will help boost the program a step further, Welch said. The end goal: create a program that will prepare GSA students to enter much-needed trades right after graduation.
“Our vision is to have a really high quality technical education program with a multitude of options,” Welch said.
Welch said GSA will use the first $50,000 installment to update the school’s shop classroom with new equipment and safety systems. The work is expected to begin this summer, so students will walk into a shiny new shop space next year.
Welch said the school will form a committee of local employers and tradespeople who will help create a more comprehensive workforce training program at GSA. The program may include dual enrollment with Maine community colleges, internships with local businesses, and wider and more advanced class offerings. The rest of the funds will be put toward that end.
“We want to work with people on the [Blue Hill] peninsula,” Welch said. “Employers that need and want a skilled workforce. We want to get to the point where our kids could graduate with a job offer.”
The money was donated by a Blue Hill Peninsula resident who wished to remain anonymous, according to Welch.