The U.S. Coast Guard donated the steel-hull boat to the Fire Department, but it needed rewelding and painting.
Holyoke provisional Fire Chief William P. Moran, center, admires new rescue boat last month with Pablo Gonzalez, 17, left and Carlos Morales 15, right, both sophmores at the Dean Technical High School, who were among students that did the body work and painting of the vessel. HOLYOKE – It will take a lot more than a City Council proclamation to oust the dark cloud that shadows Dean Technical High School, but teacher Richard A. Foy said recognizing student achievement can only help.
Dean students and teachers were honored Tuesday for repairing and painting a donated boat that is now a Fire Department rescue vessel.
The council proclamation comes as Dean struggles with a designation by the state as a chronically underperforming school. That so-called Level 4 label is because of poor student academic performance, a high drop-out rate for high school students and other problems, officials said.
“All the teachers in all the shops at Dean are really working hard through all the turmoil that’s going on,” said Foy, Dean auto body teacher.
Foy, welding instructor Luis A. Colon and most of the students who worked on the boat were honored before the City Council meeting.
“That’s what we wanted, to recognize the kids,” Colon said.
The U.S. Coast Guard donated the 21-foot-long, steel hull boat last year, but it was banged up. Parts of it had to be rewelded, and a special epoxy paint that clung to the surface had to be applied, Foy said.
The boat has a 4.2-liter, inboard diesel engine, which makes it stronger and better able to maneuver upstream on the Connecticut River than the Fire Department’s previous boat, Lt. Thomas G. Paquin has said.
“It felt good to give back to the community and be recognized for it,” said sophomore Xaviel Colon, 16, son of Luis Colon.
Mayor Elaine A. Pluta christened the new boat March 9.