The Northborough Patch
Responding to a request from Director of School Facilities Mike Gorman, Worcester County Sheriff Lewis G. Evangelidis recently provided free inmate labor through the Sheriff’s Inmate Community Service Program to Algonquin Regional High School to complete some much needed interior painting of the high school Guidance Department as well as the painting and trim work of 15 classrooms.
In addition to this most recent project, the inmate work crews have previously completed three other extensive interior painting projects throughout ARHS providing the school with well over $40,000 in total savings. The Sheriff’s inmate work crews are made up of nonviolent, non-sex offender individuals approaching the end of their sentence who have earned a place in the Community Service Program and will only provide assistance to school districts
during the months when students are not in session.
Since taking office last year, Sheriff Evangelidis has more than tripled the size of the Inmate Community Service Program and in addition to recently helping at Algonquin Regional High School also provided inmate work crews to complete projects at the Northborough and Southborough Housing Authority providing a total savings of over 50,000 for both communities.
“The Inmate Community Service Program has provided a true win-win for Algonquin Regional High School and for the Sheriff’s Department,” said Evangelidis. “With public school budgets continuing to struggle during these tough fiscal times our inmate work crews are able to accomplish many projects at no cost resulting in a significant savings for municipalities and local school districts while inmates who are selected for the program appreciate the opportunity of a productive days work. With over two million dollars in savings for Worcester County communities since last year, the Inmate Community Service Program continues to serve as a great asset and as Sheriff I am thrilled to provide this much needed and valuable resource to complete projects, which help to maintain our schools.”
“On behalf of the Algonquin Regional High School, I can not thank Sheriff Evangelidis enough for his visit,” said Algonquin Regional High School Director of Facilities Mike Gorman, “and for providing us the Inmate Community Service Program for over one week to complete the much needed painting of our Guidance Department and classrooms. The inmate work crews were extremely respectful and did a highly professional job on this extensive project that we could not have completed or afforded otherwise. With well over $40,000 in total savings, the Sheriff’s Inmate Community Service Program has provided a great service and cost savings to help maintain our high school building, this is absolutely a tremendous program that has made our real difference for our school.”
