Minuteman School Gets $500,000 Competitive State Grant

By CHARLENE ARSENAULT (Patch Staff)

LEXINGTON, MA — Now with $500,000 in hand, the Minuteman High School will be able to launch a new Advanced Manufacturing and Metal Fabrication program.

The competitive grant was given to the school, and the program will train high school students and adults for high-wage, high-demand jobs in the field of advanced manufacturing in the MetroWest region.

Gov. Charlie Baker announced the grant during ceremonies at the State House on Feb. 24. Grants totaled $9.3 million from the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program.

Some 68 schools and training programs applied for grants; 35 were successful.

“This is terrific news for our school and for our region,” said Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, superintendent at Minuteman High School, in a statement. “We are grateful to Governor Baker and his Workforce Skills Cabinet for making this investment in high-quality vocational-technical education.”

Minuteman received $500,000, the largest grant possible under the program. Only one other school received the maximum award.

With the grant, Minuteman will purchase 10 industry-standard machines and 15 ancillary training simulators. The equipment will include five Mini Mills, four CNC Tool Room Lathes, and one CNC Lathe with Y Axis.

The equipment will help Minuteman serve vocational high school students, academic high school students, unemployed and underemployed adults, and incumbent workers seeking to earn industry credentials.