The construction trades class at Crookston High School is working on the house started by the class last year. That’s because the class last year lost two and a half months of construction when the state put distance learning into effect for all schools. This year, the class has had about four months of hybrid learning and six weeks of distance learning that have also slowed the progress they can make on the house.
Construction Trades instructor Travis Oliver said the progress on the house has gone slower between COVID-19 and having a smaller class of just seven students this year. “We had about a month and half this year of distance learning, and the first half of the year was hybrid learning,” said Oliver. “In my opinion, it was better than not seeing the kids at all and better than online learning, even though it was every other day. Our production wasn’t really where it was at in a normal year where my expectations are this that and the other. We’re kind of at the other right now.”
A couple of the next tasks are sheetrocking and the siding. “As the spring progresses here, you should see the siding on the house,” said Oliver. “Inside right now, we are sheetrocking. We are going to bring someone in to do the mudding and taping on the inside. We’ll be doing the mudding and taping and hanging the sheetrock in the garage to give the kids a chance to try that. I hope the weather holds out nice, so we can get this stuff done and hopefully get the house on the market to sell it to start over next year.”
Each year the house progresses to a different point, but with the year-plus of work students have put in on this house, they should get to do some trim work, which Oliver said rarely happens due to time constraints. “Every year is a crapshoot, mostly because of weather and kids in sports, and stuff like that,” said Oliver. “I have expectations to get to a certain point, and sheetrock is normally where we get to. Get all the sheetrock hung, get the garage hung, and get the kids taping some of that. The last couple of weeks, we’re cleaning up, putting stuff away. We don’t usually do a lot of trim work with a two-hour class throughout the year because we don’t have enough time. This year, we’ll hopefully get a chance to do a bunch of trim work on the windows and doors and in the garage. The exterior I hope to get just as far as we have done on prior houses with the siding complete. Hopefully, by June 1, there won’t be much to do other than some flooring and some cleanup.”
The house will also have a two-car garage, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms. Oliver said an open house is being planned for next week. “The inside of the garage will be sheetrocked and heated,” said Oliver. “It is a separate heating zone from the house, so you can heat the garage to whatever you want. We’re going to have an open house Thursday, March 11, for the parents, maybe some of the community members. I have to get the guidelines exactly, but I know the parents for sure I’ll send an email to invite.”
This year, the students in construction trades are Sophia Rezac, Gage Nelson, Grant Nelson, Andrew MacGregor, Zac Delage, Charlie Burks, and Wyatt Erickson.
