Augusta schools receive state grant for robotics program

AUGUSTA — The Augusta Area School District was awarded a $35,798 grant on Tuesday for its robotics program.

“The school district will use grant funds for a CRX collaborative robot integration package and a FANUC CNC Simulator,” a news release from Gov. Tony Evers’ office reads. “The equipment will provide students with industry-recognized certifications from FANUC-NOCTI and NIMS, ensuring they graduate with practical skills in high-demand manufacturing sectors.”

Reed Pecha, Augusta interim school superintendent, said it was exciting to receive the state money. Pecha said it was a matching grant and several area businesses helped raise the rest of the funds.

“I’m really proud of our community in general, with their support for the referendum and for this matching grant,” Pecha said. “It highlights the commitment our community has had towards our schools.”

Pecha said the district has about 620 students in K-12, and between 20 and 25 students go through the industrial programs each year.

“They can take what they’ve learned directly into the workforce,” Pecha said. “Industrial robotics, that’s where everything is headed. When they leave here, they are ready to go right into the workforce.”

Duane Ives, Augusta school board vice president, was thankful the district won the funding. He said the board filed the application a few months ago.

“Our robotics program has grown significantly in recent years, with having a 3D printer,” Ives said Tuesday. “It’s really going to allow our students to get some hands-on experience.”

Ives noted there are manufacturers in Augusta where recent graduates often find jobs because of the experience they obtain in the industrial programs offered by the district.

The funding comes from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, with 17 school districts awarded. Those districts “will benefit from advanced manufacturing training in preparation for high-demand job opportunities thanks to grants from the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program,” the news release reads. Augusta was the lone recipient in western Wisconsin.

“Advanced manufacturing is an important part of our economy in Wisconsin, and ensuring our kids have access to high-demand, high-skill job training opportunities is critical if we want to prepare our future workforce for the 21st Century,” Evers said in the release. “By investing in technical education in school districts across the state, we are connecting the dots and expanding career opportunities for thousands of students while positioning our manufacturers for success.”

The current round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants from DWD totals $408,123 for school districts across the state to train students for career paths involving robotics, welding, plasma cutting, 3D printing, drones, and more. These grants reimburse school districts for the costs of purchasing and installing technical education equipment used for vocational training and technical education in advanced manufacturing fields. This includes the purchase of new equipment such as computer numerical control machines, robotic welders, fiber laser cutting machines, 3D printers, and more.

“Fast Forward grants connect school districts across Wisconsin with some of the great advanced manufacturing companies we have in our state, such as Baileigh Industrial and Snap-On, to prepare our future workforce for careers in high-demand, high-skill industries,” said DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek. “The state-of-the-art equipment, including robotic welders, laser cutters, 3D printers, and other high-tech tools, will enable schools to provide coursework that aligns with industry standards and requirements.”