It was great to receive this press release from State Rep. Bill Reineke. This is great news for a great school. COLUMBUS—State Representative Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) announced today that the Ohio Department of Education recommended a grant award of $882,929 to a consortia of local schools and businesses in Seneca and Sandusky Counties to create an advanced manufacturing training program. The Straight A Fund Governing Board selected the application of Vanguard Sentinel Career and Technology Center, in conjunction with the Fostoria Learning Center, META Solutions, Motion Controls, and National Machinery, to adopt the Robotics and Advanced Manufacturing Technology Education Collaborative (RAMTEC) to train the students for industry-specific credentials. “Our communities are taking a huge step forward today by receiving state funding for the new RAMTEC program,” Rep. Reineke said. “RAMTEC is a highly innovative program based on strong collaboration between our career tech schools and local businesses, allowing students to walk right out of the classroom and into the workplace with in-demand industry credentials. I am thrilled to see our local partnerships recognized by the state so we can advance our mission of giving our students the skills they need to succeed in the workforce. This truly will prepare individuals for more than just jobs, but careers that will give them meaning and purpose.” The grant is part of the Ohio Department of Education’s Straight A Fund, which provides money for innovative ideas to help improve student achievement, increase efficiency and tear down educational barriers. The program received 141 applications and awarded 23 recipients with a total of $14.8 million. Each grant application underwent review by independent scorers for both fiscal sustainability and to determine if proposals are innovative and have substantial value and lasting impact before being recommended by the governing board. The RAMTEC Program has already been implemented in a number of career technical schools in Ohio. It was created with the vision to address the skills gap by preparing high school and adult students with advanced manufacturing and engineering skills. Final approval for the funding will go before the General Assembly’s Controlling Board on August 8, 2016.