T-L Photo/KAILEY CARPINO Bellaire Superintendent and high school Principal Derrick McAfee, left, discusses planned improvements to Bellaire High School during the board of education meeting on Monday. Board member Jim LaRoche, right, listens after being elected as board president.

BELLAIRE — Superintendent and Bellaire High School Principal Derrick McAfee announced some improvements to the high school during the board of education meeting Monday.

McAfee said the EQT Foundation awarded the school a $28,000 grant that will go toward a CNC plasma cutter for the metal shop at the high school.

“We’re talking cutting-edge stuff. … It’ll take 4 by 8 sheets of metal, and it has a plasma cutter that’s hooked up to basically a robotic arm that will cut any design you want out of that metal. The stuff that we’re going to be able to make is stinking sweet,” he said.

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control.

McAfee said that most of the current equipment in the metal shop is from the “World War II era.” McAfee said training is included with the purchase of the machine.

“They’re complex machines. It’s not something you just walk up and flip on print,” he said.

“What’s good about it is we have pretty strong ties to local industry. So once we’re done with the training, we may even be bringing people in from the trades to show us. So it’s going to be a great opportunity that’s good for the kids,” McAfee said.

Board member Bill Marinelli noted that he knows someone from church who builds things for NASA using a CNC plasma cutter.

“We’re exposing our kids to the workforce a little bit more in ways that we never dreamt possible 10 years ago at Bellaire Schools. We have to make sure we’re offering stuff for our career kids and our college kids. We want to make sure we have some for everybody, and this is a good direction. So I’m really, really excited,” McAfee said.

McAfee also said that school officials plan to build a wall in the basement of the high school that will create a student commons room. He said that the room will serve as a space for students with good grades and good attendance to spend time in.

“We might put some popcorn machines and video games down there for them, soft seating,” he said.

McAfee said that he hopes the new room helps students feel valued and encourages them to work harder.

“It’s one of those things where we say, ‘Well, you’re good kids, we trust you,'” he said.

“We live in a world where kids have to want to be in school to be successful. If you show up, and it’s a chore and you’re miserable every day, if you’re treated like you’re a criminal or you’re treated like everything’s bad, and I don’t trust you, you’re going to get out of what you put into it. So we’re kind of reshaping the way we operate over high school and saying to our kids, “Hey, you know what, you’re young adults, we’re going treat you like young adults, and we expect you to act and perform like young adults,'” McAfee said.

McAfee said that everything has been going well at Bellaire High School.

“Things are going great over there. I’m really enjoying my time in the building with the kids,” he said.

McAfee also said that January is school board member recognition month and thanked the members of the board.

“To be here with all of you guys and listen to the conversations and see so many people that care so much, it’s awesome to be a part of. So all I can say is from the bottom of my heart, on behalf of everybody in the schools and our teachers and our kids, just thank you. Thank you for what you do. Keep up the great work, and we are just getting started. It’s so great to have you guys back. The sky’s the limit,” he said.

McAfee also said that Bellaire High School will have a Building Leadership Team meeting on Jan. 15. He explained that he will meet with a group of high school teachers and listen to their advice and feedback.

“It’s invaluable to hear what the teachers have to say and what they want, what they’re looking for. I always look forward to those meetings because it’s not about me telling them what to do. It’s about me listening to them, telling me what they need me to do. All of those meetings on a regular basis is extraordinarily beneficial, making sure we’re all on the same page,” he said.

The board also had its organizational meeting Monday. The board voted to elect Jim LaRoche as board president and Jason Ayers as vice president.

The Bellaire Board of Education began its meeting with a moment of silence for Stanley Stein who served on the school board for over 20 years. Stein died Sunday.