In about a month the Copper Country Intermediate School District CTE Construction Technology program will auction off the class’s first house. Over the past nine months, 55 students worked in teams, alongside local contractors, to build a three-bedroom two two-bathroom home. Complete with a sauna.
Built many homes myself, and it’s great to back to the Grand Rapids area and see those homes from 30 years ago. And I think it’ll be the same for the students. Ten years out, five years out, 30 years out. This did occur 40 years ago, there was one in Baraga County, about five years ago. But to bring it to this scale and move forward, we need to acquire more property, and and work with our municipalities. The City of Hancock we hope to go to the next, we’re working with Baraga County right now to get a home started there. It’s a good thing. – Corey Soumis, Director, CCISD Career and Technical Education
the first crew gets here at eight, the second crew gets here at ten. So they’re not always working on the same phase of the project, but the same thing with when you have eleventh graders and seniors. The seniors might get to work on the foundation phase and then maybe the juniors are the ones who get to do the flooring and the trim at the final phase of construction. What’s cool about this project and how good the students are in this class is we had this project for a 24-month build, 24 months given, you know, summer’s off, but these students have got it done in a single. – Andy Moyle, Owner, Moyle Construction
Construction Tech program advisory chair Steve Aho, whose daughter is a part of the program, says it’s incredible to see how quickly students have picked up tools and gotten to work.
So I’m kind of seeing both sides, right? And the need for our students to have these learning opportunities. But then also as a parent, being able to have a couple of students, I had a son who excelled in school once he was able to take the hands-on CTE classes. And I now have a daughter who has found enjoyment in doing hands-on activities. Steve Aho, Chairperson, Construction Technology Program Advisory Board
Also, I’m a workplace learner where I am picking out appliances and light fixtures and a lot of the designing for this house. When we came in here in the fall, we had the concrete down and we started framing the walls right away. And from then we did like everything with the whole house and it’s been a great experience just learning how to build a house from the ground up. – Alecia Aho, Student
Career and Technology Education Director Corey Soumis adds the home has been student-led, and community built.
We’re at 55 at the moment. We’re going to be about that same number next year in the Houghton County program and the Baraga County program. We’re going to be at around the 10 to 15 mark. Student-built, yes, but it’s a community built more. So, Moyle helps spearhead a lot of this. Moyle Real Estate and Development and Moyle Contracting, our construction, but also all the other contractors that have jumped on board and other community members. We have a. concrete contractor outside right now working with our instructor and looking at what we’re to do for the concrete. That’s a specialized skill that we need a contractor on board with but they’re talking about how can we get students involved. – Corey Soumis, Director, CCISD Career and Technical Education
After the home sells around mid-summer funds will go back into the construction tech program. Soumis says the students will build another home, with plans underway for a location in Baraga County. In late May the program hopes to invite the community to view the home and learn more about the students that led the project.
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