Hangar 2 at Barnes Regional Airport. (WNG File photo)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, CFO Ronald R. Rix, Aviation Maintenance Technology teacher Galen Wilson, and AMT junior Edward Towers met with the Finance Committee on Wednesday night to seek a recommendation for an appropriation of $724,920 from Free Cash to complete the inside work on Hangar 2.
Czaporowski said restoration of the interior cost over $1.2 million, but Westfield Technical Academy has already received a $500,000 Workforce Development grant from the state for the project.
Rix said there are time constraints, because it has to be encumbered by the end of June. He said the project to work on the interior has gone out to bid. The work will bring the hangar up to educational code. “This completes the entire project,” Rix said, adding the timeline is to house students there this September.
The exterior of the historic hangar was completed through $800,000 in Community Preservation Act funds, and a $250,000 grant received by Westfield Technical Academy in 2015.
Czaporowski explained that once the students are able to occupy the building, AMT can then offer the power plant certification for the program, which means certifying students to work on aircraft engines. Currently, students receive general and air frame certification.
“The program has come a long way,” Czaporowski said. He said they have received over 2 million in grants, and one-quarter of a million in gifts, including $100,000 from Bombardier.
AMT instructor Galen Wilson said there is a lot of interest from out-of-district students in entering the program, one of only three FAA-accredited high school programs in the country.
2018 Finance sub-committee: Andrew K. Surprise, Dan Allie, chair, Matt Emmershy. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Dan Allie asked how many students would be served, and Czaporowski said current capacity is fourteen each grade, or fifty-six in all four. Wilson said they will have the ability to expand the program in the future with more instructors.
“These students when they graduate will have a job waiting for them,” Czaporowski said. He also said they will have earned college credit at universities or colleges offering the program.
AMT junior Stephen Towers, who joined them at the committee to speak about the program, said he is interested in attending the Air Force Academy, with the ultimate goal of becoming a pilot.
Both Wilson and Czaporowski spoke about the potential also for an evening program down the road that could offer certification for technicians.
Allie asked when the work could commence, and Rix said as soon as the funding is in place. He said they’d like to start in April, and would need to pay half in June for the grant. He said the plans are all done.
“The only thing I’m trying to juggle, is this is going to tie up one-third of the Free Cash,” said Finance Committee member Matthew Emmershy. He asked if there were any other avenues, such as bonds, for the financing.
Rix said working with the administration, they decided to go to the city for a one-time cost. He said there is no bond that could tie into the project.
“I’m just trying to see if there’s any additional ways to free up Free Cash,” Emmershy said. He asked whether they would feel comfortable taking off the contingency of $108,000, which Rix said was built into the contract.
Rix said the project had already been scaled down from $1.5 million, and he did not feel comfortable taking the contingency out. “I’ve never been involved in a contract where they haven’t needed some of it,” he said.
Rix also said a lot of the work has been done by city departments at no cost, including the Department of Public Works and Water Department. He said Gas & Electric is also bringing in a gas pipe for the HVAC, as well as cable at no cost to the city.
“This is an amazing program,” Allie said. He asked for a motion to recommend the appropriation, which passed 3-0.
“We are extremely appreciative of the finance subcommittee’s positive recommendation to move this project to the full council for a vote. Creating our Aviation Maintenance Technology Program started almost four years ago. We are very excited to take this initiative over the finish line for our students,” said Czaporowski following the meeting.
