The construction trades class at Crookston High School is well on its way to completing its project house for 2019-2020. Travis Oliver, the class’ instructor, says the house is on Hoven Lane next to the house they built last year. “We’re building a house at 1603 Hoven Lane, right next to last year’s house,” said Oliver. “The house is 1,500 and some odd square feet with a 30 x 30 garage. The driveway is already poured, the foundation is poured, and right now, we’re working on framing up walls. Going forward, we’ll be doing rafters and shingling.”
There are only nine students in the class this year, but Oliver said it is working out well because they are good kids, and he can spend more time explaining things to each individual. Oliver said the class will hold an open house for the community to see their progress on Monday, November 4 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. “We’ve got an open house for the community and the parents of the students to see how far we’ve come and how we’re doing,” said Oliver. “It’s a positive thing I try to do with the students. Everyone can come to walk through the house, see it at different points throughout the year, ask questions, and hopefully get some answers.”
As part of the class, students receive jackets, which Oliver said a purchased through sponsorships. “Every year, I try to provide the kids with nice jackets to work out in the conditions that we work in,” said Oliver. “This year sponsoring the jackets again are the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority, and Northwest Housing Cooperative, who we work with as far as the general contractor on the house. We do jackets for each kid, individually sized, and then Erickson Embroidery does our ordering and embroidery for them. It’s a great positive for the program. I enjoy it, and I think the students like having the jackets and it’s something they can keep 5-10 years down the road. It’s usually a pretty durable Carhartt jacket.”
