Burmaster lauds Signicast, Hartford Union HS partnership

On May 16, the State Superintendent Burmaster joined school officials and representatives of Wisconsin Manufacturer’s and Commerce (WMC) on tours of the Hartford Union High School technology and engineering department and their technical education partner, Signicast Corporation. The event was part of WMC’s May is for Manufacturing observance, intended to highlight the cooperative work being done between high schools and manufacturers in Wisconsin.

Accompanying the state superintendent on the tour of the high school were Superintendent Jeff Tortomasi, Principal Mary Koehl, Industrial Technology teacher Joe Nied, and School Board Vice President Dave Kling, all of Harford Union High School; Jim Haney, Executive Director, Wisconsin Manufacturer's and Commerce; Werner Wolpert, Executive Director, Hartford Area Development Corporation; former student Craig Rosine; Representative Dan Pridemore; and DPI consultant Brent Kindred.

Industrial Arts teacher Corey McCauley talks about Hartford Union High School's technology education program with Elizabeth Burmaster and Jim Haney

Participating in the tour of Signicast were Burmaster; Haney; Bob Schuemann, ExecutiveVice President of Signicasty; Nied; Kindred; and Sam Reinke, a former Harford Union student currently employed at Signicast. Burmaster also stopped in for an impromptu concert by the Concert Choir students of Stephanie Klockow, choral teacher at Hartford Union.

Burmaster, a strong advocate of business/education partnerships, noted the important role of practical, real-world experience in educating the next generation of workers. “Through work-based learning partnerships, students are able to see and understand how academic and technical skills come to life in dynamic work settings,” she said. “Work-based learning offers both the rich context and career awareness that is so important for our students’ total learning experience, and that will help them move into jobs that better match their skills and interests. I congratulate the Signicast Corporation on their outstanding partnership with Hartford Union High School, and encourage more companies, schools, and communities to join in developing this important model for education and economic progress in all parts of the state.”

Signicast, one of the world’s leading investment casting manufacturers, has been in business for more than 40 years and has established itself as a leader in the global economy through its technology efficiencies, robotics innovations, and by investing in its employees. Their partnership with Hartford Union High School includes sponsorship of the Robotics Team; donation of a rapid prototype machine; participation in co-ops; conducting tours for classes from eighth through twelfth grade every year; and helping students develop job interview skills through mock interviews. Some of Signicast’s current employees have participated in these partnership programs at the high school.

Last updated on 5/22/2006