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BVT Self-Renovated During Summer Months

UPTON – Ever mindful of the need to protect and maximize the public’s investment in quality vocational-technical education, Blackstone Valley Tech – boosted by the availability and willingness of its highly technically skilled staff and students to assist during their summer break – has once again made multiple campus improvements.

The longer 193 teaching year calendar creates a consolidated eight-week summer for BVT students and school year staff. Logistically, this brief interim from full operation necessitates an efficient, and highly aggressive, building and maintenance improvement process.

The school embarked upon three major projects during the summer months in addition to its annual cleaning and maintenance process: upgrading and enhancing the Manufacturing and Engineering Technology program space, reconfiguring existing space into two new art classrooms, and updating the school’s Three Seasons Restaurant.

The Manufacturing and Engineering Technology program received a complete makeover thanks to a recent Massachusetts Workforce Skills Capital Grant. The BVT facilities team relocated 35 major pieces of machining equipment before performing maintenance to the walls and ceilings of the shop and installing new flooring to the 5,100 square foot area. Once the flooring was complete, the team reinstalled the existing machines and added new machinery.

Always working to utilize every space in the building, the facilities team createed two new art classrooms in the school’s lower level. The space, which housed the technology department until recently, was reconstructed and transformed into two classrooms that include new flooring, sinks, ceilings, lighting, and technology. Additionally, a pottery kiln was installed to aid in teaching sculpture art to students. The existing art classroom was transformed into a science classroom.

The facilities team revamped the Culinary Arts program’s Three Season Restaurant by updating the space to fit with modern restaurant design and ambience. The cosmetic updates included a new paint scheme and replacing existing carpeting with a vinyl flooring system. The restaurant furniture was reconfigured to maximize the space, creating an optimal learning environment for students, and providing the best dining experience for guests.

The shorter summer season means the facilities team had to pursue traditional maintenance and upgrading projects while simultaneously completing large-scale changes. The smaller projects included stripping and waxing sections of the flooring, relocating the technology department and behavioral resource center, installing new steamers and deli sinks in the cafeteria kitchen, and continuing the implementation of the front entrance sign.

Students returned to school and were greeted with newly transformed spaces where they will continue to learn and grow.

Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.

 

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