Submitted article from Butler Middle School
Students from Butler Middle School stepped behind the scenes of the digital world during a “Data Center Discovery Workshop” hosted by the Markley Group.
The event provided local youth with a hands-on look at the physical infrastructure that powers the modern internet and the growing field of artificial intelligence.
During the three-hour immersive experience, students participated in guided tours and a technical scavenger hunt, identifying the critical components that keep global services like streaming, gaming, and cloud computing operational.
The workshop aimed to demystify data centers, framing them not just as buildings but as essential to our digital life and the regional economy.
“Data is becoming the backbone of our new economy, and it is our responsibility to prepare the next generation for this shift,” said Neyder Fernandez, Community School Manager at the Butler Middle School. “By bringing students into these spaces, we aren’t just teaching them about hardware; we are teaching them how to use technology safely, effectively, and sustainably. Understanding how data moves and where it lives is the first step in becoming responsible citizens.”
Markely representatives stated that “We were pleased to host our young neighbors, and we hope they were inspired by the world-class technology that’s right in their backyard.”
In addition to exploring technical hardware, the workshop highlighted the diverse career paths required to maintain modern infrastructure. Students engaged with professionals across multiple disciplines, learning that the “tech sector” relies as much on skilled trades, including electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians, as it does on software engineers.
Markley Group also presented students with participation certificates and a sponsorship award of $3,500 to support continued college and career readiness at the Butler, reinforcing a shared commitment to local educational investment.
As Lowell continues to grow as a hub for technological innovation, programs like these bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, ensuring that local students are positioned at the forefront of the evolving digital landscape.
Markley Lowell employs 100 full-time staffers as well as four dozen union electricians and three dozen union pipe fitters. Clients include hospitals, fire departments, police departments, airports, and other backbone operations of major functions in the state of Massachusetts.
Disclaimer: The inclusion of external organizations or funding sources in this communication does not constitute endorsement by Lowell Public Schools or Butler Middle School. All partnerships and financial contributions support educational and enrichment programming.
3 responses to “Interactive Workshop Connects Lowell Students to Markley Data Center”
Glad to hear that LPS is teaching students how to use technology “sustainably”. However to do that, they will have to look beyond Markley.
Gee, I’m glad you published the disclaimer at the end.
I’d hate to think that, in the pursuit of “educational and enrichment” activities, that either Lowell Public Schools or Butler Middle actually endorsed this BS, and the measly $3500 will be used for actual education.
This is GREAT that Markley supports local education through a student activities fund donation!
But we also have to keep in mind that the rapid expansion of AI data centers has created immense concern and friction with the local neighbors, as well as concerns for job loss and replacement.
Besides the valid neighborhood concerns, JOB LOSS is another BIG CONCERN! That’s why the unions have to be VERY proactive and stay on top of this through aggressive collective bargaining and contract language. People should NOT be replaced by AI and technology but instead, co-exist as a balanced supplementary unit only.
Once again, that’s where the Massachusetts Legislature comes into play and WHO we elect is so VERY important, now more than ever! The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and other major labor unions are actively lobbying the State House for these exact types of aggressive guardrails with the FAIR Act (Fostering Artificial Intelligence Responsibility). House Bill S.35 and House Bill H.77 will protect workers and enforce a “balanced co-existence framework”. These bills will ensure that AI is a “mandatory subject” of collective bargaining!
The legislature must AMEND state labor relations acts (M.G.L. Chapter 150A and 150E) to explicitly state that the deployment of any generative AI or automated management systems (AMS) impacts working conditions, and that it is a mandatory subject of collective bargaining. This way, employers would be legally barred from introducing these systems mid-contract without a union-negotiated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). These bills and acts need to be comprehensively discussed and debated to ensure fairness to ALL the stakeholders, which includes both the workers and businesses, because it must also be realized that businesses have to stay economically competitive.