Public-Private Partnership Brought Academy to Reality
The Architecture, Construction, and Engineering Academy opened its doors in 2009 and is a comprehensive program designed to attract students interested in entering the construction workforce to get an apprenticeship, or attend technical college or a four-year university to pursue engineering. It is part of the School District of Marshfield and allows grades 10-12 to develop unique partnerships with area construction businesses.
The academy, located behind the high school, resembles a small warehouse with shelves of hard hats, tool boxes and bags and electric tools lining its walls. Taxpayers and the school district did not pay for any part of the building. All of the funding and materials for the $160,000 project came from donations facilitated by Marshfield Area Community Foundation, while a $60,000 Department of Commerce grant provides teachers with the necessary training.
Prior to the ACE Academy, any construction project that wasn’t woodwork was done on a small patch of gravel outside the school. Weather limited the construction season to six to eight weeks in the fall and four in the spring. With the academy, students could work more on learning larger projects like electrical wiring or laying mortar.
About 1000 students have benefited from the academy since 2009. This is a project that will serve our students for many years to come. The academy is a good example of how a public–private partnership can work well together to bring ideas to reality.
The academy is another addition to MACF’s long list of contributions to the community, which include the Adler Kodiak Bear Exhibit at the Wildwood Zoo, Everett Roehl Marshfield Public Library, Hackman Field, the Youth Baseball fields, Weber Park, Hamus Park, Hardacre Park, Brehm Park Disk Golf, the Skate Park, Boson Tennis Complex, Tiny Tiger Intergenerational Center, the ACE Academy, Griese Park, and many, many more.
A tax exempt, non-profit organization, MACF uses public support to better connect those with a cause in mind to its completion while taking care of administrative tasks, and continues to establish permanent, named funds for public benefit.
View more videos on Marshfield Area Community Foundation in honor of their 25th anniversary at this link.
