TURNERS FALLS — Franklin County Technical School’s $1.5 million veterinary and animal sciences building, providing a new home for the program’s students and instructors, has been fully operational since the start of 2025.

To mark the milestone, local legislators joined tech school administrators, faculty, School Committee members and local officials at the school on Thursday to participate in a breakfast, ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the 4,800-square-foot veterinary clinic and classroom space.

“We’re big believers here, as a lot of vocational schools are, that if we build it, they will come,” Franklin Tech Superintendent Richard Martin told guests at the breakfast and presentation. “We needed it. The community needed this.”

Martin explained how in 2017, while presenting the school budget at Annual Town Meetings, residents inquired as to why an agricultural hub like Franklin County was without a veterinary science program. Martin said that experience got him thinking about how to bring a veterinary science program to the school. The program was launched in the 2019-2020 school year with the help of a $275,000 Skills Capital Grant to convert two former classrooms into grooming and exam rooms, as well as a lab space with equipment that was transferred to the new building.

To further expand the program, Franklin Tech began working to get a new building constructed. It was built by students, reducing the burden on taxpayers. Capital funds were raised from member towns over several years.

“We were able to make sure that this was up and running at a reasonable cost,” Martin said.

The growth in enrollment was something Martin pointed to, noting how current programs like the veterinary science program and the forthcoming aviation program have been enrollment drivers. Franklin Tech is projecting an enrollment of 653 students next school year.

Elena Cohen, district director for the office of Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, spoke during the breakfast about the support that Comerford and other legislators have voiced for vocational schools.

“In the Senate, we understand that capital spending is needed to meet the demand for more vocational seats. The Senate recently passed a Fair Share supplemental budget, which allocated surplus Fair Share tax revenue for transportation and education,” Cohen said, adding that the Senate secured $100 million for career technical education capital grants to expand capacity at vocational schools. “It’s a privilege to be able to support the great work of Franklin County Tech faculty, students and administrators.”

As the guests explored the building and heard from students about what they do in the veterinary science program, they were able to see the equipment that includes X-ray and ultrasound equipment, exam tables, lab tables, kennels and grooming stations, among other tools for working with animals.

Starting at the beginning of the year, students were able to start working on small animals, like cats and dogs, with the assistance of their instructors to provide veterinary services to the community. A few animals live full-time at the building as well, including Frankie the cockatiel, Willow the tortoise and Mr. Slithers the snake. Cattle and goats are also on campus.

“When I walk in the doors I’m very grateful because I know I’m getting an amazing education here that not many, let alone high school students but college students, are getting,” Franklin Tech senior Avery Heathwaite said about her experience in the program with the new building.

Heathwaite explained she and her peers are getting hands-on experience both from working with the public in the new building, but also through co-op placements with regional partners and classroom time with the instructors.

“There are a lot of kids that want small animal education — which we do a lot of dogs and cats — but then they’re also allowing the kids that like livestock animals [to pursue that interest] by incorporating the goats and cattle,” Heathwaite said. “So they really take the interest of the students.”

Instructor Sara Dugas, who worked in the veterinary field locally before coming to Franklin Tech, explained she sees students benefiting from the hands-on experience in the program that the new building enhances.

“It’s a complete game-changer,” Dugas said of the building. “I think for them to see an area that really mimics what they would find in the real world and industry is just invaluable.”

An element of this program Dugas pointed out was how the students will go on to fill a need in the Pioneer Valley and across the United States in veterinary care and in agricultural fields involving animals. She mentioned the turnover rate and burnout that can occur for employees working in these fields, and she feels getting a strong foundation at a high school level is valuable to help students explore what areas of veterinary and animal science they enjoy and what areas they don’t.

“I felt really passionately, not only on helping students attain their goals, but also helping the industry as well, and preparing students for the challenges that are inherent to working with animals, working with people in high stress situations,” she said. “These guys are really well-prepared.”

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.