Обучение строителей в США
Agreement teaches students the fine art of construction
By Carla McCann
Gazette staff
Gazette staff
MILTON-When Bill Kennedy stepped into a Chicago area high school to offer students hands-on experience building homes 38 years ago, he became a pioneer."I was the first one to ever do this," Kennedy said.
Today, as the owner and CEO of Kennedy Homes, he still is reaching into communities to find the builders and developers of the future.
The building industry is the backbone of the country, Kennedy said.
"Fifty percent of the high school kids won't go to college," Kennedy said. "That's OK. They still can be successful." He's proof of that. Kennedy didn't go to college, either. "I went into the building industry in 1961," Kennedy said.
By fall, Milton High School students in the construction trades class will follow in the paths of hundreds of other students, mostly in Illinois schools, who have learned to build houses for Kennedy Homes.The Milton contract will be the first time the company has spread its educational offer to a Wisconsin school district, said Michael Ladd, Kennedy Homes director of construction. At least 100 former Kennedy Homes students stayed with the company in one job or another after graduating high school, Kennedy said. The Milton School Board recently unanimously approved entering a contract with the Barrington, Ill., developer and expanding curriculum to include the chance for students to help build new homes.
The district still is working out details of the contract with Kennedy Homes, said Scott Randall, tech ed teacher. Although the district had been talking about a similar type of program for years, it lacked the financing and was hesitant about taking such a risk on its own, Randall said. "They (Kennedy Homes) are paying for everything up front," Randall said. "It will offer students a real life hands-on experience." Materials will be provided by Kennedy Homes. Students need only bring their own tools, Randall said. Kennedy Homes is developing a 400-acre subdivision between Highway 26 and John Paul Road. Labor costs saved by students building a house will be returned to the district's technical education program. Kennedy said he'd like to see the district bank the money from the building projects to provide a coffer for the future of the program. "We're not going to be there forever, but the district will," Kennedy said. "If they develop a war chest ,so to speak, they will be able to operate without us around." That's what Randall hopes will happen, too. "One of our long-term goals is to become self-sufficient," Randall said. Most of the other schools involved in Kennedy's building projects have set up their own programs after earning the money to do so, Kennedy said. He expects the first year of the Milton contract to have a few obstacles. "We all struggle a little the first year, but we're willing to do it," Kennedy said. The long-term benefits are well worth a few challenges, he added.
In addition to learning skills and a trade, students are building self-esteem on the job, Kennedy said. In Milton, Randall will accompany and work with students at a Kennedy Homes job site during the two-hour class Monday through Friday. The project also will be overseen by one of Kennedy Homes' foremen or supervisors. In addition to teaching carpentry skills, the on-the-job training also will introduce students to the other trades that contribute to the construction of houses, Ladd said. When specialized trades, such as electricians and plumbers, move into a building, the students will become observers, Ladd said. "They'll be able to come and watch our contractors working," Ladd said. "We'll call them out at different times through the progress of construction." Building schedules will mirror class schedules. A house that students help build will be scheduled for completion by the end of the school year, Kennedy said. "The full education will be more than just carpentry," Kennedy said. Student involvement on the job doesn't mean the company will cut any corners or lessen its standards. The construction will follow strict building standards and codes, Kennedy said. "It all has to be done properly," Kennedy said.
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Today, as the owner and CEO of Kennedy Homes, he still is reaching into communities to find the builders and developers of the future.
The building industry is the backbone of the country, Kennedy said.
"Fifty percent of the high school kids won't go to college," Kennedy said. "That's OK. They still can be successful." He's proof of that. Kennedy didn't go to college, either. "I went into the building industry in 1961," Kennedy said.
By fall, Milton High School students in the construction trades class will follow in the paths of hundreds of other students, mostly in Illinois schools, who have learned to build houses for Kennedy Homes.The Milton contract will be the first time the company has spread its educational offer to a Wisconsin school district, said Michael Ladd, Kennedy Homes director of construction. At least 100 former Kennedy Homes students stayed with the company in one job or another after graduating high school, Kennedy said. The Milton School Board recently unanimously approved entering a contract with the Barrington, Ill., developer and expanding curriculum to include the chance for students to help build new homes.
The district still is working out details of the contract with Kennedy Homes, said Scott Randall, tech ed teacher. Although the district had been talking about a similar type of program for years, it lacked the financing and was hesitant about taking such a risk on its own, Randall said. "They (Kennedy Homes) are paying for everything up front," Randall said. "It will offer students a real life hands-on experience." Materials will be provided by Kennedy Homes. Students need only bring their own tools, Randall said. Kennedy Homes is developing a 400-acre subdivision between Highway 26 and John Paul Road. Labor costs saved by students building a house will be returned to the district's technical education program. Kennedy said he'd like to see the district bank the money from the building projects to provide a coffer for the future of the program. "We're not going to be there forever, but the district will," Kennedy said. "If they develop a war chest ,so to speak, they will be able to operate without us around." That's what Randall hopes will happen, too. "One of our long-term goals is to become self-sufficient," Randall said. Most of the other schools involved in Kennedy's building projects have set up their own programs after earning the money to do so, Kennedy said. He expects the first year of the Milton contract to have a few obstacles. "We all struggle a little the first year, but we're willing to do it," Kennedy said. The long-term benefits are well worth a few challenges, he added.
In addition to learning skills and a trade, students are building self-esteem on the job, Kennedy said. In Milton, Randall will accompany and work with students at a Kennedy Homes job site during the two-hour class Monday through Friday. The project also will be overseen by one of Kennedy Homes' foremen or supervisors. In addition to teaching carpentry skills, the on-the-job training also will introduce students to the other trades that contribute to the construction of houses, Ladd said. When specialized trades, such as electricians and plumbers, move into a building, the students will become observers, Ladd said. "They'll be able to come and watch our contractors working," Ladd said. "We'll call them out at different times through the progress of construction." Building schedules will mirror class schedules. A house that students help build will be scheduled for completion by the end of the school year, Kennedy said. "The full education will be more than just carpentry," Kennedy said. Student involvement on the job doesn't mean the company will cut any corners or lessen its standards. The construction will follow strict building standards and codes, Kennedy said. "It all has to be done properly," Kennedy said.
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