SWG building tradition to continue
Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Instructor Nick Sesker, who teaches the joint Southeast Webster-Grand/Iowa Central Community College Building and Trades class, puts a drywall screw into the garage ceiling recently as student Tanner Lundberg, left, watches. The students are building a home just south of Brushy Creek State Recreation Area.
Southeast Webster-Grand High School seniors are using their skills in a building and trades class to construct a house, but next year the class will likely be vacant of senior class members.
For eight years, high school seniors have constructed a house for someone who contracts the majority of the work with the school, rather than a construction company. Historically, the class has only been open to seniors, and allows them to earn up to three credits at Iowa Central Community College. Students in the program have built seven houses since the program began.
At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, the class was under consideration to be eliminated due to budget cuts within the district, but it was saved because of its value to the community.
Recently, the program was again under consideration for a change — this time a one-year cut — because of lack of interest from next year’s senior class.
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