This is the first in a series of articles about USD 257?s Career and Technical Education program.
It?s starting to look like a house.
A week ago, the structure at the Regional Rural Technology Center lacked a floor.
All that existed was the base of a tiny house built by USD 257?s construction trades class. And even that was built in just the past three weeks.
But on Thursday, the day before the first semester ended at the tech center, a group of students and instructors lifted the fourth wall into place, bringing a longtime vision for the ambitious project into clearer focus.
The goal for the first semester was to have the floor and walls in place. Next semester, they?ll finish the house.
Hopefully.
There?s a lot to do. The walls need to be finished. A roof will be added. Doors and windows hung. Sheetrock installed and finished. Wiring and plumbing work will need to be completed.
In short, a group of students from Iola High School and Marmaton Valley High School need to finish building an entire house between January and May.
They come from different backgrounds, with varying levels of experience.
Iola High School senior Jordan Swart is supervised by instructor Steve Carpenter as he saws a board. REGISTER/VICKIE MOSS
IHS senior Jordan Swart is one of the more experienced students. His father and grandfather are both contractors. Swart thought he?d be a contractor, too, but he also enjoys the landscaping work he does as part of his job with TLC Garden Center. He also works for a local farmer, Aaron Coltrane, and plans to work for Coltrane full-time after graduation.
?I?ve discovered I really prefer operating heavy equipment,? he said.
Even with his prior experience, he?s learning a lot from the construction trades class.
?You have to be very precise,? he explained. ?If you?re even a quarter of an inch off when you?re building the foundation, it?s going to mess up everything.?
Wesley Lowder, a junior from Moran, thinks he might want to work in carpentry. Mostly, though, he took the class because he prefers hands-on learning to sitting in a classroom and reading a textbook.
?I just like getting out and doing stuff,? he said.
