The Old Rochester Regional School Committee met at 12:00 pm noon on Monday and the meeting turned into a laser show of sorts.
The committee met only to accept three $2,000 donations from three different community members — totaling $6,000 – so the school can buy a laser cutter.
District officials could not immediately get in touch with the community members for permission to release their names. Technology education teacher Scott McElroy said in an email that the laser cutter will be used in 12 technology courses, as well as for multiple grade levels in the high school.
“By incorporating the laser cutter into our curriculum, we can provide students with hands-on experience in design, fabrication, and engineering,” McElroy said. “This will not only enhance their technical skills but also foster creativity and problem-solving abilities.”
For the course “Intro to Cad and 3D Design,” the laser cutter can enable students to engrave designs on a variety of materials to create personalized items or prototypes, according to McElroy.
For the high school’s “Architectural Design” course, the laser cutter can be used to precisely cut out components for scaled model projects, allowing students to create highly detailed and accurate representations of their designs,” McElroy noted.
For the school’s “Robotics and Engineering” program, students can fabricate custom parts for their robotics and engineering projects, “enabling them to experiment with unique designs and functions,” also according to McElroy.
“This versatile tool can enhance learning across our high school’s multiple grade levels and subject areas,” he added.
School Committee members expressed their appreciation for the donation to make this tool a reality in the district.
School officials also noted that these types of donations are commonplace in the Tri-town community and further enhance learning at the school.
Old Rochester Regional School Committee
By Jeffrey D. Wagner