Jeff and Sue Greischar of Northrop are donating $70,000 towards the Fairmont Area Schools vocational building that is currently under construction. The building is expected to be completed prior to the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
The $70,000 donation will be used for the following specific programs:
$10,000 to fund accessibility/transportation and any other restrictive barriers for special education students to access the new vocational classes. This will encourage students with special needs to experience vocational programs that will lead into a skilled trade.
$10,000 to fund scholarships for students to obtain tools they may use while attending vocational schools and working in the skilled trades. Students that attend construction trades programs and diesel mechanic programs are required to purchase their own tools.
$50,000 to fund mechatronic/machinist equipment to be housed in the vocational school.
Superintendent Joe Brown and CTE Department Chair Bob Bonin thanked the Greischar family for this generous donation. “This donation will provide a significant boost to the Fairmont High School vocational program. Minnesota needs to replace over 200,000 skilled workers in the next few years as the baby boomer generation is retiring.” Fairmont High School currently has five vocational academies:
Welding Academy
Automotive Academy
Agriculture Academy
Construction Trades Academy
Culinary Arts Academy
A new HVAC Academy will be implemented during the 2022-23 school year.