School benefits from corporate donations, plans to expand co-op program
By DAN BENSON
Ozaukee Press staff
Ozaukee High School is looking for more businesses to partner with its technical education program and will hold a “check-in” event at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 3, in the Fredonia school’s Innovation Room.
“We will share updates on our progress toward our priority purchases in the woods and metals shop, share student project successes from this year and continue to get your input on how we can best prepare our students with skills that they can utilize in the future,” Northern Ozaukee Schools Supt. Dave Karrels stated in a press release.
Employees at Carlson Tool in Cedarburg recently delivered a Bridgeport knee mill that includes a digital position display, which was given to the school by an anonymous donor
“I told Bill (McLarty of Carlson Tool) that I would send a thank you card (signed by the students) to him, and he could give it to the family,” OHS Technology Education Instructor James Peter said.
“Employees of Carlson Tool cleaned up the machine, rewired much of it, added safety equipment and installed a new motor. They also delivered it at no charge to OHS,” Peter said.
“It had been well-maintained over the years and now looks almost brand new. Carlson Tool donated the vise that we will be using on it.”
In addition, Central United Corp. in Newburg donated hundreds of drill bits, end mills, taps and other tools for the school’s milling machines, Peter said.
“That will keep our students supplied for years. Many of the tools are brand new and are very costly. Many of these will be used on the donated Bridgeport mill,” he said.
Past donations and other assistance have come from other local companies, including Oldenburg Metal Tech, Ram Tool Inc., CD Smith Construction, J&H Heating, Krier Foods, Neuens Lumber and Alpine Plumbing.
The district also received grant funding from the state Department of Workforce Development.
The district made upgrading its technical education program a priority as part of the April 2018 school building referendum, committing $250,000 to the effort.
Since then, the School Board formed a technical-education advisory committee that has solicited input from local manufacturers, tradespeople and others, many of them with children who attend school in the district or see the advantages of the program supplying trained employees.
For more information, contact Karrels at dkarrels@nosd edu.