ROCHESTER — Aaron Polansky, who serves as the superintendent-director of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School and Kevin McCaskill, Executive Director at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School are fast friends. But they serve at vastly different schools, Polansky in rural Rochester, and McCaskill in inner-city Boston. So, they decided in summer 2019 that it would be powerful to bring students from their respective schools together.

The two administrators shared the idea with their administrative teams and received an incredible response. Teachers have since jumped on board and the first event is planned for Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Administrators, instructors, and students from the electrical, business tech and marketing, culinary, health careers, cosmetology, and automotive programs at Madison Park and Old Colony will participate in an exchange, where half of the students from each program will visit a cohort of students in the same program at a host school.

In the spring of 2020, the administrators, instructors, and students who travelled will host, while the other half travel.

The administrative teams from both schools believe the opportunity will result in lasting relationships and an opportunity for students to find value in what we share and in how we differ. To truly educate their students, both schools feel it is important for their educational experience to include a view of the world beyond their walls.