Companies give Clintonville High School tools, equipment, money, metal
By Bert Lehman
The Clintonville High School welding program recently received several donations.
The Clintonville School Board was notified about the donations when it met March 28.
Schutt Industries donation
In an effort to give some students an education that prepares them be hired upon graduation, Clintonville High School works with local industry partners to accomplish that goal.
According to March 23 press release, the donations help assure that students have the latest tools that are being used by local companies.
One of those partners – Schutt Industries – donated welding equipment, tools, consumables, precision measuring instruments, and more to the CHS Career and Technical Education (CTE) department.
“The CHS CTE department will use these tools in the automotive, welding,and manufacturing classes offered to all students,” according to the press release.
The estimated value of the Schutt Industries donation exceeds $45,000.
“This donation will work with the referendum funding provided by the school district and the citizens of the Clintonville area to expand the school and the CTE department capabilities,” release said.
Schutt Industries, a manufacturer of industrial and military grade cargo handling equipment, is increasing its operations in Clintonville.
The company is looking to hire more skilled workers to help bring the best equipment to all customers.
H&S monetary donation
With the addition being constructed, Clintonville High School will expand its welding program. According to the press release, the welding program will move from a “small and cloistered welding room with eight booths crammed into a small space, the lab is expanding into a much larger area with 14 welding booths, fabrication and layout space, and additional equipment. This growth is in response to the growing demand for welders in Clintonville. Many area companies need welders to keep up with the expansion and growth in their companies.”
H&S Manufacturing has pledged to donate $30,000 toward the welding and fabrication lab being built at CSH.
“This donation will be going directly to new technology installed at the Clintonville High School fabrication lab to help the student be trained on new technology that is also being used in local manufacturing companies,” it was stated in the press release. “This amazing donation will help the high school welding and fabrication program train the students in modern equipment, processes, and practices to enable the students to leave high school ready to work in high paying skilled trade jobs immediately upon graduating from high school.”
Metal donations
Some of the donations consisted metal for students to practice their welding on.
“If we did not have metal, there would be nothing on which the students could weld,” it was stated in the press release.
The press release stated that the welding world calls 2-inch-by-4-inch pieces of metal used for training, “welding coupons” and it can cost a high school welding program thousands of dollars each semester to purchase welding coupons.
“This adds a significant cost to a welding program and will sometimes reduce the number of students who can take the courses or reduce the quality of the education the students who take the courses receive,” the release said.
Thanks to donations from H&S Manufacturing and Marion Body Works the Clintonville School District did not need to use funds for metal.
Marion Body Works donated 416 pounds of aluminum flat stock, round stock, square tubing, and other metal. H&S Manufacturing’s donation consisted of 5/16 inch, 3/16 inch and 10-gauge mild steel pre-cut into 2-inch-by-4-inch coupons.
“The CHS welding program usually receives anywhere from 200-400 pounds of steel per quarter that classes are running,” the release said. “As our students advance in their welding skills, they move from welding on mild steel to working with stainless steel.”
The press release also noted, “The CHS welding program owes a great debt of gratitude to H&S Manufacturing and Marion Body Works for their continued support of the program.”
FWD Seagrave recently reached out to the CHS welding program and pledged to donate metal to the program, and is putting together a request for metal to be used by the program.