The district is putting more emphasis on tech ed classes with the arrival of two pieces of equipment that use computerized technology to create physical products.

They recently purchased a CNC plasma burn table with federal Carl D. Perkins Grant funding. It can be operated with a computer and is used to cut metals. They purchased a similar machine for wood shop classes last year.

Jeff Swanson has been Niagara’s tech ed teacher for 2 1/2 years, after being in the welding and fabrication industry for 20 years.

“It seemed like something fun, a change of pace,” he said.

NATHANIEL BURKLUND, superintendent of the School District of Niagara, shows off one of the new cornhole boards created for physical education by the tech ed classes at Niagara High School, using some new equipment. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

The new equipment gives students a way to combine new and old technology. Students in AutoCAD now can design an item on the computer, then cut it out on the machines.

“They can see that full cycle,” Swanson said. “They draw the parts and make it a reality.”

They emphasize safety, Swanson said, so students are taught to use equipment slowly.

In junior high, they only use hand tools. This year, eighth-grade students created toy trucks and Christmas trees out of wood pieces. The freshmen class made tool boxes out of wood. They mostly used hand tools but were allowed to use electric sanders.

The woodcutting machine has been used to make many items. Students are finishing eight sets of cornhole boards that will be used by gym classes. They are also creating a number of custom cutting boards engraved with various designs that will be sold as a fundraiser for the tech ed classes.

NIAGARA SCHOOL DISTRICT’S new 30-by-40-square-feet storage building completed by Sanicki Construction. The building will house numerous items and is large enough to hold a bus if work needs to be done, district officials said. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

The woodshop and metal shop classes have about a total of 32 high school students. About 14 students are in AutoCAD.

Superintendent Nathaniel Burklund noted they have a number of wood and metal donations for the classes and Swanson volunteers to cut the wood at a sawmill.

Burklund also said the district has finished using the money left from the 2020 building referendum.

A portion paid for a new 30-by-40-square-feet storage building completed by Sanicki Construction. The building will house numerous items and is large enough to hold a bus if some work needs to be completed. Tech ed students were also involved in building some of the walls.

Burklund said in previous years they could use classrooms for storage, but every elementary grade now has two sections, so there is not a lot of extra space.

Because some construction costs from the referendum came in lower than was estimated, they were able to change out the air handler in the elementary school that dated back to 1977.

Another small project involved using a back hallway — dubbed “the hallway to nowhere” — to highlight the district’s sports success and current teams. The walls are lined with team photos and schedules, and the tech ed classes will create wooden signs. The hallway is near the cafeteria where the booster club now sells concessions and there is access to the gym from the hallway.

“It was a good way to use an area that wasn’t being utilized, and showcase the sports teams,” Burklund said.