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Construction
        Page 8                                                                                                 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaymn.com



        Bemidji High School’s Construction Program Continued from Page 4

                                                                                Strength in Community Support      Advice for Schools Looking to Start a
                                                                                   The  program  thrives  thanks  to  a  wide  Similar Program
                                                                                network  of  community  partners—from  local   The success of the BHS Construction
                                                                                lumber  yards  and  cabinet  manufacturers  to   Program is deeply rooted in the expertise of its
                                                                                excavators, trade unions, and parents. Many   educators and the strength of its partnerships.
                                                                                former  students,  now  working  professionals  in   For schools looking to start or expand their own
                                                                                the trades, have returned to support the program   student construction programs, the message is
                                                                                that helped shape their careers.   clear: “You need an instructor with extensive
                                                                                   In 2024, BHS received a $25,000 grant   knowledge  of  home  construction—someone
                                                                                from a global HVAC and plumbing supplier, in   who understands the field and can lead students
                                                                                partnership with Exploring the Trades, to build   safely  and  effectively.  Just  as  important  is
                                                                                a skills lab that expands student training in   building a strong network of community and
                                                                                HVAC  systems. Additionally,  through  HRDC’s   industry  partners  who  can  provide  materials,
                                                                                guidance, the school applied for and was awarded   mentorship, and support.”
                                                                                a Minnesota Housing grant to support the next   Ultimately,  students  need  ownership  of
                                                                                home  build  scheduled  for  the  2025–26  school   the  experience.  While  some  choose  specific
                                                                                year.  These funds will go toward purchasing   tasks that interest them, all are encouraged to
                                                                                building materials and tools to further enhance   engage in every phase of the build. The result
                                                                                the student learning experience.   is a sense of pride and confidence that carries
        process.  From  framing  and  siding  to   easily rotate between classes.  They spend   As  workforce  conversations  across  the   well beyond graduation.
        insulation, painting, and cabinetry, students   about  60  minutes  on-site,  after  which  the   country  increasingly  emphasize  the  value  of
        are  immersed  in  every  step  of  building  a   next group of students picks up where the last   trades, this program stands out as a proven model
        home—aside from a few major installations   left off, creating a continuous, collaborative   for  how  education,  community,  and  industry
        like  concrete,  well,  and  septic  systems.  In   workflow.           partnerships can converge to empower the next   www.bemidji.k12.mn.us
        recent  years,  the  program  has  expanded                             generation.
        through a collaboration with a nearby   Focused on Real-World Experience
        technical college, allowing their students   The  primary  mission  of  the  BHS
        to  install  plumbing,  electrical,  and  HVAC   Construction Program is to prepare students
        systems,  further  enriching  the  hands-on   for success—whether they enter the trades or   Jordan’s Building Trades Course
        learning experience for all.        simply  learn  valuable  life  skills.  Not  every
                                            student will pursue a career in construction,   Continued from Page 1
        Building Lasting Partnerships       but all gain practical experience and
            This program wouldn’t exist without the   exposure to career possibilities they may not
        continued support of HRDC. The partnership   have previously considered.
        was originally launched in 1994 when   “There  are  so  many  potential  careers
        former BHS teacher Ron LeClaire, with help   in  construction  that  students  don’t  know
        from former HRDC Executive Director Tim   exist. We aim to not only teach them how to
        Flathers and Habitat for Humanity, secured   build, but to show them that there are high-
        the initial grant funding. Since then, students   paying, meaningful jobs in the trades,” one
        have  built  over  60  homes  in  the  Bemidji   instructor shared. Over the past seven years,
        area—each one providing new educational   the  program’s  scope  has  grown  to  include
        opportunities  and  a  tangible  impact  on  the   deeper involvement with technical training,
        community.                          thanks to the partnership with the technical
            Each year features a new house plan to   college.  Impressively,  several  former  BHS
        broaden the range of student experiences.   students who participated in the program are
        Locations are carefully selected within 10   now continuing their construction education
        minutes  of  the  school  to  allow  students  to   at the college level.



              Minnesota Housing Grant Helps Fuel the                            bids,  order  supplies,  and  complete  the  work     When asked about the  work students

                     Future of Student Construction                             of  building  the  memorial  garden.  The  work   are doing on these projects, Teacher Stephen
                                                                                                                   McClellan  agreed  with  Mr.  Vizenor’s
                                                                                to rebuild the memorial garden structure has
                                                                                included concrete work and brick and mortar   sentiment,  “the  Building  Trades  students  at
              In  early  2025,  Bemidji  High   Funds  from  the  award  will  be   work, using many leftover materials from the   Jordan High School were given the opportunity
          School  was  awarded  a  Minnesota   used  to  purchase  building  materials   building  construction  at  Jordan  Elementary   to  work alongside  trades  contractors,  giving
          Housing  grant—a  significant  step   and  tools  for  a  new  four-bedroom   School.                    them  a  realistic  and  engaging  view  of  the
          forward  for  the  long-standing  student   home  to  be  constructed  during  the   The  other half  of the  Building  Trades   workforce. Whether they pursue a trade career
          construction  program.  The  grant   2025–26  school  year.  This  grant  not   students have  been  building  garden  sheds   or not, the exposure builds skills, awareness,
          proposal  was  submitted  through  the   only  supports  hands-on  learning   with supplies that were donated by a local   and confidence that will benefit them in any
          school’s ongoing partnership with the   for  students  but  also  reinforces  the   Jordan  lumber  company.  This  work  has   path they choose.”
          Headwaters  Regional  Development   importance  of  high  school-level  trade   included  framing,  siding  and  shingle  work.
          Commission  (HRDC)  after  HRDC   programs  in  addressing  workforce   When  completed,  the  sheds  will  be  sold  by
          shared  the  opportunity  with  school   shortages across the state.  the  lumber  company  within  the  Jordan  and   www.jordan.k12.mn.us
          leaders.                                                              surrounding communities.
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