THE ISSUE: The Medford City Council unanimously approved $250K to help fund improvements to Medford Technical High School, adding to the long list of groups supporting vocational education in Medford. WHY IT MATTERS: Support for vocational programming benefits both residents and students of Medford learning skills in booming industries.

At a time when signs of discouraging division are evident throughout the country and the world, an inspiring symbol of unity is happening in Medford – much to the benefit of its young students.

During the April 4 meeting of the Medford City Council, the council voted unanimously in support of a $250,000 free cash allocation request from Mayor Stephanie M. Burke to partially match a $495,000 state grant that was awarded to the Medford Technical Vocational School.

The grant, and match from the city, was awarded to help Medford Tech purchase and install equipment needed to complete their significant improvements to the culinary arts and hospitality program, which involves renovating existing space at the school to create a modern kitchen and dining room where students can gain real-life experience cooking for and serving actual customers.

"The current space was built in the mid-1990s out of a first-floor cafeteria," said Dr. Heidi Riccio, director of Medford Tech. "The space was divided up and sectioned off. There is no window space available, there is no easy access to the general public, there is outdated equipment, the tile is not appropriate for the kitchen of today as well as the dining room. The new space was written as a direct result of what those needs are."

Riccio had attempted to secure the grant funding last year, but ultimately wound up unsuccessful. Rather than accept defeat, she strengthened the application and resubmitted the following year.

"We felt it was important to go back to the Governor and seek why [the grant was unsuccessful]," Riccio said. "One of the reasons was we did not have enough, or strong enough, partnerships or in-kind donations. So as a result, we spent the last 10 months investigating who we could partner with."

That investigation yielded more than 10 partnerships and letters of support from groups around the city and the state, including business entities offering employment opportunities to students through internships and co-ops, educational partnerships with Bunker Hill Community College and Tufts University and in-kind donations of materials and labor that, combined, amount to more than $1 million.

In particular, a partnership with Wynn Boston Harbor – the anticipated five-star, luxury resort casino being constructed in Everett – will amount to $525,000 in in-kind value over five years, as they have expressed their intent to offer at least six paid internship/co-op positions, as well as providing consulting, guest lecturing from their chef staff and the donation of equipment that they retire from use.

"They change out their equipment and services and linen every three years in order to make sure that they're providing exceptional services to their guests," explained Riccio. "We will become a direct benefactor of any of the outdated equipment. It's not outdated by anybody else's standards but Wynn."

The project will also be supplemented by a partnership with the Local 22 Laborer’s Union, who will be donating $50,000-worth of labor and materials needed to construct an ADA-compliant ramp at the main entrance of Medford Tech.

The city will also save an estimated $75,000 in the renovation process of the new restaurant because it is being partially constructed by staff and students from multiple programs at the school. The new culinary arts crown jewel is anticipated to be completed in June and ready for a grand opening in September of 2017.

"That's a pretty good deal when you can get that kind of revenue in funding and when it's for a program that's going to help the kids and serve the community as well," said Superintendent Roy Belson.

In addition to these improvements, the state grant also included money to purchase a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, a laser cutter and a brand new automated plotter for the advanced manufacturing and metal fabrication programs. These machines will be installed throughout April and May.

Being awarded the grant, in addition to the clear signs of success at Medford Tech (such as the number of students going to other districts for vocational education shrinking from 50 students this year to just eight next year), resulted in high praise for Riccio from the council.

"What you've done here – the leadership programs, the partnerships with different businesses, communities and unions, the collaboration with all the stakeholders, the alumni ball, the thousands of dollars we're saving keeping our kids in our community compared to the money that we were losing – the sense of pride I feel for what you're trying to do and what you're accomplishing is immense and you can feel it throughout the community," said councilor George Scarpelli.

"I think you were one of our best hires," said councilor and former Medford School Committee member John Falco Jr. "The partnerships that you've built, the vision that you have, it's just been amazing."

Riccio passed the praise onto all parties in Medford that have banded together to help carry on a legacy of vocational education in the city and, even more, make it thrive.

"Medford believes in vocational education and has always believed in vocational education," Riccio said. "It’s the commitment from all of Medford – business leaders, alumni, parents, students, city officials, labor unions, the mayor and the former mayor – they are all committed to it and have invested in it over the last four years."