Building and trades program adds new home to SL

Kyle Coyle is a first-year student with the building and trades program. Instructor Jim Brown is behind him. / Photo by Lorri Glawe [Click to enlarge]

There is a new house going up on Emerald Drive - Storm Lake High School students are the carpenters.

For the past nearly two decades, students from SLHS have had the opportunity to participate in League of Schools which provide students with exposure through hands-on training in house building (and other areas) at no cost to them. Instructors are provided by Iowa Central Community College and high school credit as well as college credit is given those students completing the courses.

Up until last year, the houses were built in Alta - 17 of them, in fact, and students from area schools combined their skills to watch the houses go up from start to finish.

While it was thought that the program may discontinue after the retirement of the building and trades teacher; thanks to BB Development (Jim Brown and Steve Brashears) the program continues. Brown also is in his second year as the instructor of the program.

Last year the 26 students built an 1,800-square foot house in West Lake Estates; this year, an even bigger project, 2,400-square feet, is taking shape

The Emerald Drive home is being built for Russ and Tracee Dierenfield; last year's home was not sold until after its completion but the house is now home to a family of seven that moved into the community.

The new project includes a three-car garage, nine foot ceilings throughout the home, three bedrooms upstairs, a den, living room, kitchen and two and one-half bathrooms. Downstairs includes a rec room, exercise room and bed room. A spacious deck - with a view overlooking the lake - surrounds the house.

BB Development fronts the program and takes all the risks if the house is not sold, as what happened last year. The contractors also line up the sub-contractors, order supplies and if necessary, will complete a market analysis to determine the best spot for a new home to be built.

This system seems to be work well and does not put any pressures on the school to supply tax dollars for the project. Under the agreement, the school also receives half of all the profits of the homes built - at no costs to them.

In the past, the houses constructed by the building and trades students have been completed by the end of the school year. Last year the house took an additional three weeks. Several students volunteered to help complete it; Brown paid the students.

The Dierenfield family will be moving into their new home in June. A prerequisite for the students is to take part in a manufacturing tech class. Students put together storage sheds in this class. It is a chance for the students to see if they like working with hammers and nails; those that do may sign up for the building and trades class, those that do not will probably not take any further classes.

The projects are huge but, as Brown said, "The bigger the project, more effort they put in to it. These kids are so happy to be here. They're serious. It gives them pride and respect."

The students have the chance to work with the professional sub-contractors that come in and learn skills from putting up dry wall and texturing to concrete work to heating and plumbing. Brown, who is a master electrician, is able to show the students what is involved in this area.

Safety is always an issue. The work site is not like a classroom but an actual work site. "This is a true chance for hands-on work," he said.

The students enjoy the special treats that the Dierenfields leave for them each Monday; it is only a small way they can show the students that they are pleased with the work they are doing.

There has been some controversy about the manner in which the program is now operating and there was some discussion about it at the recent school board meeting. The Dierenfields offered a letter which stated, "we would like to express our support and gratitude for this program. Over the past seven months we have enjoyed working with BB Development and the building team that are helping make our project a reality. We hope the school system continues this program in the future. Due to high costs of construction, we would not have built this home at this time without the building trades program."

Brown added, "I'm passionate about this program and would hate to see it changed."

The students shared some of their thoughts. Rudy Reyes has been in the building and trades program for two years.

"It doesn't stay the same," he said. "We learn more and more." He added that as a second-year student, he has been able to help the first-year students. "That has given me good leadership."

A senior, he plans to enroll in the Charter School and continue taking construction classes. It is his dream to someday own his own construction business.

"Planning and thinking ahead," he said, are two things Brown has told the students that they need to work in a construction business. Reyes put that into all the work he is already doing on the house.

Victor Loera, another second-year student, plans to continue his education by taking another year of carpentry and two years of electrical classes.

Instructor Brown has been dabbling in construction as a "hobby" for the past 30 years. He has built some homes and completed additions over that time, giving a great deal of experience.

His two loves in life, he said, are construction work and kids. "When this opportunity came up, it was natural for me. I love being around kids who are high school age. I'm having a blast. It's good to get up in the morning and come to work."