Making the Grade: Electrical Project

Students from the Shawsheen Valley Technical High School are working alongside the pro's

The arts are getting a big boost at a Massachusetts middle school, thanks to the local IBEW and aspiring electricians.

Students from the electronics program at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School are working alongside the pro's. They're tackling the auditorium at Marshall Middle School in Billerica, a project that's taken years to reach this point with a lot of help along the way.

"We thought this was a great project for us, so we jumped right in," said Lou Antonellis, President of IBEW Local 103.

Members of the union have donated their time to renovate the space. That time is saving the school thousands of dollars.

"They make it all happen and we have beautiful sound, beautiful lighting, and a beautiful TV studio in a couple of weeks," said Michael Rossi, Principal of Marshall Middle School.

Many of the workers and students learning alongside them have a special connection to this particular job site.

"I went to the school, my kids went to this school, I have a son currently in this school. It means the world to me personally," said Antonellis.

"It's just giving back to the community you live in, and trying to make it a better place," field engineer Michael O'Brien said.

This is a community effort with a deep impact.

"It's going to mean a lot because I like doing theater and all the lights and the sound is going to be good for the plays," said Louis Antonellis Jr., a 7th grader at the school.

For the Shawsheen Tech students, it's an invaluable chance to get a true feel for the trade.

"It's kind of fun," said junior Griffin Blanch. "You get some real experience under your belt for when you work in the field."

The renovations include a production intercom system that allows the control room at the back of the auditorium to communicate with the stage. When the project is finished, the facility will have the capability to broadcast live performances on community access television.

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