Minuteman High School Holds Annual Advisory Committee Appreciation Dinner

PHOTO CAPTION: Left to right - Mr. Al Fox of Arlington, Minuteman Career and Technical Education Director Michelle Roche and Mr. Dominic Camilli, Jr., of Watertown. Mr. Fox and Mr. Camilli were honored at the dinner for their distinguished service to Minuteman as longtime Advisory Committee members. Photo by Minuteman student Catherine Maxwell.

By Judy Bass

LEXINGTON – At Minuteman High School’s Annual Advisory Committee Appreciation Dinner recently, keynote speaker Francis X. Callahan, Jr., President of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO, observed that students who learn the building trades at vocational-technical high schools like Minuteman typically excel because they are extremely well-prepared and know what to anticipate when they begin their careers.

“We want to work with you,” Mr. Callahan told the audience, which was comprised of Minuteman staff as well as professionals representing the career and technical education fields taught at the school.

Each Chapter 74-approved career program at a vocational-technical school like Minuteman is required to have a panel of actively-practicing professionals called an Advisory Board supplying guidance on curriculum, industry trends and state-of-the-art equipment. Minuteman has over 350 members on its 20 Advisory Boards, including students, parents and guardians, industry and business partners, and representatives from organized labor, apprenticeship programs and post-secondary institutions.

Mr. Callahan pointed out that years ago, unions viewed vocational-technical schools as competition, but that situation has changed. “It’s no longer the case,” he said. “It shouldn’t be the case.”

The Massachusetts Building Trades Council, AFL-CIO, which Mr. Callahan heads, represents 75,000 men and women in the construction trades from 74 local unions and District Councils across the state. He is also an Executive Vice President of the 400,000-member Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

In an interview, Mr. Callahan explained, “Students benefit in many ways from a strong relationship between the trades and career and technical schools. First and foremost is access to continued education and training through Joint Labor Management Apprenticeship Training programs. Building trades unions and our signatory contractors invest more than $40 million per year to provide the best training available in state-of-the-art facilities.”

“We need more women in the trades,” he added. “It’s not just for boys.” There are abundant opportunities for qualified females, Mr. Callahan said, citing the building boom in Massachusetts as well as the aging workforce in the construction trades.

Christopher Bateman, Minuteman’s General Advisory Board chairman, president of the Minuteman Futures Foundation and managing partner of Lexx Restaurant in Lexington, delivered the evening’s opening remarks.

He thanked the entire Advisory Committee membership for “their time, commitment and dedication that aids our teachers in continuously improving their programs and curriculum.”

Mr. Bateman announced that the position of co-chair of the Minuteman General Advisory Board has been newly created and will be filled by Susan Carabbio. Ms. Carabbio is a market manager for People’s United Bank, president of the Lexington Rotary Club and a longtime Lexington resident.

Mr. Bateman thanked Minuteman School Committee members Ford Spalding of Dover and David Horton of Lexington, along with the Minuteman Futures Foundation members who campaigned vigorously to ensure that the recent district-wide referendum on funding a new Minuteman high school building was approved.

Minuteman Superintendent Dr. Edward Bouquillon said, “We have been working on this [getting approval for a new Minuteman building] for eight years.” The word that comes to my mind is gratitude,” he said, referring to all those whose efforts made the decisive difference. He said Minuteman has until November 30, 2016, to finalize the design plans for its new facility.

Two Advisory Board members were honored for generously contributing their time and expertise to Minuteman for many years: Al Fox, of Arlington, and Dominic Camilli, Jr., of Watertown.

Mr. Fox, a cabinet maker and draftsman, has served on the Carpentry Advisory Board since 1982 and is presently its vice chair. His four children attended Minuteman and have used their education as the foundation for successful careers.

In an interview, Mr. Fox spoke of the satisfaction he derives from helping Minuteman, noting that he feels he is “doing something good in the community.”

Mr. Camilli, a Minuteman alumnus, has been a member of the Health Assisting Advisory Board since 2005. He is the fire captain of Hanscom Air Force Base and has given countless hours of support to Minuteman as a guest speaker on ethics, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and appropriate behavior in the healthcare field.

Mr. Camilli encourages others to serve on the school’s Advisory Boards. “It is paramount that those in the trades and occupations that Minuteman provides to students to be proactive and give as much time as they can so that Minuteman can be on the cutting edge of education and skills.” Also, he said, Advisory Board members’ involvement provides valuable feedback to the teachers and insight into what new skills or certifications the students will need to be competitive after they graduate.

Anyone interested in being on an Advisory Board at Minuteman can contact Advisory Committee Operations Lead Maryanne Ham, at 781-861-6500 x7323 or emailing mnham@minuteman.org. There are numerous ways that Advisory Board members can take part. For example, they can represent Minuteman at open houses or career fairs, provide advice on new equipment and curriculum, offer work-based learning opportunities, identify industry trends or arrange field trips and guest speaker engagements.

Minuteman was established in the 1970s as one of more than two dozen regional-vocational technical high schools in Massachusetts. Over the years, the school has distinguished itself by building a reputation for excellence. Minuteman students consistently excel on the larger stage and have won numerous awards at state and national competitions. Minuteman challenges all students to revolutionize their high school expectations by aspiring to their full potential, accelerating their learning, and achieving success in the 21st-century global community.