ATHOL — The Starrett name is almost synonymous with Athol.
Maine native Laroy S. Starrett formed The L.S. Starrett Co. in 1880 and quickly forged a reputation for crafting high-quality measuring instruments. It has survived the decline of American manufacturing, employing an estimated 600 in Athol and 2,000 worldwide. But Starrett maintains a need to harvest local skill and has therefore decided to plant seed in academic soil.
The company has teamed with Athol High School to open the Starrett science lab, which will train and certify seniors in using precision tools. Starrett is partnered with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) and the course at the school will begin with the new semester in late January.
“The point is to try to offer students the opportunity to earn some industry-recognized credentials. That’s kind of how it started,” said Stephen Meyer, superintendent of the Athol-Royalston Regional School District. “It’s a skill that’s applicable to various career fields. Whether you’re in manufacturing or whether you’re in nursing, the ability to actually understand how to precisely measure something is a valuable skill.”
Meyer said the school and Starrett have each invested roughly $26,000. He said to make the lab come to fruition Principal Mitchell Aho and Assistant Principal David King worked closely with Michael Butler, the product manager for Starrett’s precision tools. Butler, a 2004 graduate of Athol High School, said 90 percent of the company’s precision tools are manufactured in Athol and the science lab is an investment in Starrett’s future.
“We as a hiring entity see value in it,” he said, adding that the hope is to bolster workforce development and improve local economic conditions. “This equipment is used in the marketplace and there is a level of training required in the industry.”
Butler said the Starrett science lab, which is not yet ready, is a local experiment in a program that has been enormously successful nationally.
King said the program has 20 students enrolled. He said Starrett has a vested interest in rejuvenating what became known as “Tool Town” during the height of industry.
“They have a need to try to maintain what they offer here in the Athol area, which is precision measurement (instruments). They have a need to try to integrate new people into their aging staff,” he said. “Athol High School has a need of trying to provide some hands-on type of learning for our students.
“It’s definitely an exciting thing, it’s definitely a growing thing in the education field. We’re trying to step outside the box from what we typically offer here,” he added.
Aho said gainful employment is the end goal of all education and the lab will serve as a catalyst.
The idea for the local science lab came from conversations between Butler and Athol High School teacher Carl Seppala, who over the summer became certified to teach the lab course. Seppala said the school has received two Snap-on brand tool boxes filled mostly with Starrett products.
“Snap-on is like the gold standard for auto mechanics. The best tool boxes are made by Snap-on,” he said. “The Starrett tools are just really top-notch stuff.”
The tools include tape measures, steel rules, outside spring calipers, dial calipers, thickness gauges, protractors, and micrometers.
Seppala said Starrett has been wonderful to work with and has clearly invested in Athol’s economy.
“It’s ‘Tool Town,’” he said. “In our hearts, we’re manufacturers.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @DomenicPoli