With a new $100,000 Fast Forward grant, Monroe High School is set to revolutionize technical education across Green County, expanding hands-on learning opportunities in manufacturing and construction while addressing the region’s skilled labor shortage and energizing student engagement through real-world projects.
This transformative initiative will bring unprecedented collaboration between schools, local industry, and community partners to develop a pipeline of job-ready talent prepared to support Green County’s evolving workforce needs.The new high school, currently under construction, will provide the additional square footage and dedicated spaces needed to support these expanded opportunities well into the future.
A County-Wide Vision for Hands-On Learning
At the heart of this initiative are two cornerstone programs:
● Expansion of the Home Construction Cooperative: This successful program can now include students from all Green County school districts, doubling its capacity. This year, two groups of students will build a new home. These projects will serve as full-scale, immersive training grounds, giving students hands-on experience in carpentry, electrical, plumbing,and finishing—all while contributing to the local housing market.
● Launch of Cheesemaker Manufacturing: Based at Monroe High School, this new manufacturing-focused Applied Manufacturing and Entrepreneurship (AM&E) program will integrate welding, machining, and business operations. Students will build and lead a business that will work directly with local manufacturers and other clients to complete metal fabrication projects..
Industry-Aligned Equipment & Curriculum
To deliver real-world training, Monroe High School has used this grant to acquire industry-standard equipment, identified in consultation with local manufacturers at the Green County Manufacturing Roundtable. Key additions include:
● A hydraulic press brake with CNC controls, matching systems used in local factories.
● Miller Deltaweld 350 welding systems for precision fabrication.
● TIG welding hand controls, Ellis bandsaws and grinders, and a forklift for material handling.
● Autodesk-compatible laptops and monitors for CAD, CNC, and construction software like Inventor, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and Revit.
These tools will give students hands-on experience with the exact technologies they’ll encounter on the job—greatly enhancing their readiness for careers in advanced manufacturing and skilled trades.
Construction Expansion Needs and Equipment
The expanded Home Construction Cooperative will also require a suite of new tools and safety gear to meet the growing number of participants and building sites. Industry leaders emphasized the importance of dedicated equipment for each build site to reduce downtime and maintain on-time project completion before graduation. New equipment purchases include:
● Rolling toolboxes, ladders, scaffolding, power tools, paint equipment, safety gear, and a cargo trailer for secure transport and storage.
● New skill development stations in the lab will simulate real-world conditions in roofing, framing, electrical, and plumbing.
Preparing for the Future
Within five years, the Cheesemaker Manufacturing initiative plans to expand beyond metals into woods manufacturing, powered by new equipment like SawStop table saws, a drum sander, and an electric sawmill (thanks to a generous donation). Students will mill their own lumber using logs donated by the Green County Forestry program and produce high-end, collaborative projects like live-edge coffee tables with powder-coated steel bases.
Students will also build and sell custom sheds, with future plans for gazebos and chicken coops, strengthening entrepreneurial skills and early exposure to the construction pipeline.
A County-Wide Educational Ecosystem
“Our vision is to create comprehensive, business-oriented technical education programs that benefit every student in Green County,” said Interim Superintendent Joe Monroe. “Whether they’re welding parts for local companies, running a student business, or building homes, these students are gaining real-world skills that directly support our local economy.”
Through deep partnerships with local businesses and a commitment to industry-aligned training, this initiative represents a new era of technical education—one that empowers students and strengthens Green County’s future workforce.
— Cara Carper is the School District of Monroe Student Occupation and Academic Readiness (SOAR) Coordinator. She can be reached at caracarper@monroe.k12.wi.us.
