Brewster School has prioritized the need to offer more real-life application classes to its students. Beginning in the Spring 2024, the shop and adjacent classroom are being remodeled to offer those classes.
Brewster School is adding a Brewster Tech addition to the current course offerings for students. This includes a carpentry/welding department and a technology lab. There is a current shop on the school grounds that is being renovated for carpentry and welding. The adjacent classroom is being converted into our technology lab to include 3D printers and a CNC machine (these are already supplied). Brewster Tech will offer courses for junior high and high school students starting in the fall of 2024. It was identified through student surveys and staff and community feedback that Brewster needs to offer hands-on courses that teach students job-related and life skills.
One concern for Brewster School is that enrollment has been declining- partly due to the lack of technical courses. Therefore, Brewster administration and school board has made it a priority to offer courses that will teach students valuable life skills, prepare them for postsecondary education or entering the workforce, and attract students back to Northwest Kansas where they will live and raise their families.
The goal of Brewster Tech is to give students the basic skills in various areas and then allow students to complete a work study program or attend the Northwest Kansas Technical College JR/SR options for earning an industry certification by the time they graduate high school. The long-term goal of the carpentry program is to teach students how to design and build small family homes. Skills learned would include construction, welding, plumbing, and electrical. Each small home that is built will either be auctioned off or placed in the Brewster community for housing for new families that are looking to move into a small district. This is also a way for Brewster School to attract new teachers by offering housing options.
The project will require renovations of two rooms: the shop area and the technology room. Both spaces need painting, lighting, and other updates. We will also need to purchase the tools and equipment for the shop classroom and flexible furniture for the technology classroom.
The vision to broaden our courses to teach to the hand-on interests of our students and add value to our small community in training more skilled tradesmen is why we are creating Brewster Tech. We see the need for more housing in our community and more builders, welders, electricians and other skilled trade workers in our area. We desire to set Brewster School apart with the offering of Brewster Tech. This project is a win-win for our students, community and workforce.
Brewster School is adding a Brewster Tech addition to the current course offerings for students. This includes a carpentry/welding department and a technology lab. There is a current shop on the school grounds that is being renovated for carpentry and welding. The adjacent classroom is being converted into our technology lab to include 3D printers and a CNC machine (these are already supplied). Brewster Tech will offer courses for junior high and high school students starting in the fall of 2024. It was identified through student surveys and staff and community feedback that Brewster needs to offer hands-on courses that teach students job-related and life skills.
One concern for Brewster School is that enrollment has been declining- partly due to the lack of technical courses. Therefore, Brewster administration and school board has made it a priority to offer courses that will teach students valuable life skills, prepare them for postsecondary education or entering the workforce, and attract students back to Northwest Kansas where they will live and raise their families.
The goal of Brewster Tech is to give students the basic skills in various areas and then allow students to complete a work study program or attend the Northwest Kansas Technical College JR/SR options for earning an industry certification by the time they graduate high school. The long-term goal of the carpentry program is to teach students how to design and build small family homes. Skills learned would include construction, welding, plumbing, and electrical. Each small home that is built will either be auctioned off or placed in the Brewster community for housing for new families that are looking to move into a small district. This is also a way for Brewster School to attract new teachers by offering housing options.
The project will require renovations of two rooms: the shop area and the technology room. Both spaces need painting, lighting, and other updates. We will also need to purchase the tools and equipment for the shop classroom and flexible furniture for the technology classroom.
The vision to broaden our courses to teach to the hand-on interests of our students and add value to our small community in training more skilled tradesmen is why we are creating Brewster Tech. We see the need for more housing in our community and more builders, welders, electricians and other skilled trade workers in our area. We desire to set Brewster School apart with the offering of Brewster Tech. This project is a win-win for our students, community and workforce.
Building
In order to make these renovations possible, the district has begun to raise funds to support and sustain Brewster Tech. Local donations and grants have helped get the program started, but additional funds are necessary to complete the ultimate goal of having students build and complete homes for the community.
Current expected costs to renovate the shop and classroom: approx. $200,000
Current grants and donations received: $30,356
Current school contributions: approx. $48,000
Funds needed to start the program: $121,644
Additional funds needed to sustain the program: $30,000 per year for supplies and training
Contact Superintendent Jessica McCoy at 785-694-2236 to learn more about Brewster Tech or how you can contribute to the program. There will be a donor wall placed within the Brewster Tech building to recognize all who contributed to bringing these opportunities to Brewster students and the community.
Current expected costs to renovate the shop and classroom: approx. $200,000
Current grants and donations received: $30,356
Current school contributions: approx. $48,000
Funds needed to start the program: $121,644
Additional funds needed to sustain the program: $30,000 per year for supplies and training
Contact Superintendent Jessica McCoy at 785-694-2236 to learn more about Brewster Tech or how you can contribute to the program. There will be a donor wall placed within the Brewster Tech building to recognize all who contributed to bringing these opportunities to Brewster students and the community.
