GLOCESTER – A new, grant-funded lab at Ponaganset High School will soon provide students across the state the opportunity for hands-on, high-tech training for careers in high-demand fields such as construction and firefighting.
This month, officials with the Foster-Glocester Regional School District will unveil plans for the “Ponaganset Greenovation Lab,” a facility unique to PHS that will aim to address the labor shortages in Rhode Island’s construction and public safety sectors.
The public is invited to attend a ground-breaking ceremony – which will also serve as a celebration of the grant announced earlier this year – on Wednesday, Oct. 22 starting at 1 p.m. at the high school at 137 Anan Wade Road.
The lab will be built with funds secured through the Rhode Island Department of Education’s CTE for All initiative, an effort announced last year with the goal of expanding student access to high-quality programs aligned with high-skill, high-growth industries of the future.
“By integrating academic learning with practical, real-world experience, the program will aim to equip students with the skills needed for gainful employment or post-secondary education upon graduation,” noted a release from the district sent out this week. “The lab will allow students to earn industry-recognized certifications and work with professional partners on projects that include sustainable building practices and advanced fire safety systems.”
The regional school district was one of 16 across the state to apply for the funding through the Rhode Island Department of Education. Only nine were ultimately approved for awards, and Ponaganset received the highest amount of $472,151 for the district’s concept.
Director of Student Supports Karyn Sarkis explained that the initiative will come with both a new CTE program for the high school in “Green Construction,” and opportunities for students in other CTE programs – including those attending other schools – to utilize the space.
“There’s really big plans for it not just being one program,” explained Sarkis.
The lab, she said, will offer hands on learning for students studying everything from art to firefighting. It will also be ADA accessible, allowing students with special needs transitional training in home skills such as cleaning and cooking – an opportunity not offered elsewhere in the state.
“We can open these opportunities to any child,” said Sarkis, noting district officials also hope to allow students from other schools to use the lab for certifications. “This for our students and any students across the state.”
“Dreaming big is really the concept for this,” she added.
“This grant is a game-changer for our students and for the future workforce of Rhode Island,” said Supt. Renee Palazzo. “We’re not just building a lab; we’re building a unique, collaborative space that will empower students from all over the state to pursue their passions, develop crucial skills, and contribute to our community’s growth and safety.”
The hands on opportunities will begin even as the lab itself has yet to take shape. Students will build the facility, with teachers Charles Myers and Steve Martin to lead the new Green Construction program, set to launch in less than two years.
In an area by the school’s student parking lot, the facility will feature a model home with cutaways to allow students to study building construction from the ground up, providing a deep understanding of structural integrity, fire dynamics, and safety codes.
“This lab is going to be a sort of learning space,” said Sarkis.
The new program in Ponaganset, like others in the state awarded CTE for All funding, will be the first of its kind. The statewide initiative aims to help create workforce training in areas where no active programs currently exist in Rhode Island.
With the launch, Sarkis said the district hopes to attract local industry professionals interested in collaboration, who could eventually find talent from those trained in the lab.
“We’re hoping to gain more community partners in our effort,” she said.
Members of the public interested in learning more about the Greenovation Lab are asked to RSVP by Tuesday, Oct. 21 here or by calling (401) 710-7568. Potential community partners and industry professionals who hope to learn more but are unable to attend the event are also invited to call the district.
