Rural Lane County students get 'shed-ucation' with Career Technical Education classes
Rain or shine or sleet, students in Crow High School's construction tech class are building, teacher Kyle Kishen said.
Kishen, a contractor and business owner, joined the school's staff this year to teach the class. He believes the skills he's imparting are helpful to those who will pursue the profession, as well as to those who will simply be better equipped to repair their own homes.
Among other projects, including tables and work for their theater, the class is building sheds. They're one of several Career Technical Education classes around rural Lane County receiving funds from KeyBank to construct outdoor sheds for mobile home parks run by St. Vincent de Paul.
On Thursday, St. Vincent de Paul formally accepted a $150,000 grant from KeyBank for the "shed-ucation" initiative in front of a shed built by Crow students. The initiative is a win-win-win, St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County executive director Terry McDonald said.
The funds gifted by KeyBank will be used to offset the costs of materials, transportation and labor associated with the construction and delivery of new sheds and the demolition and removal of existing sheds.
In the program, students will get experience constructing a small but complex structure and learn foundational skills for careers in the construction industry. Low-income families will get new storage sheds.
"It all seemed like a good way to bring the community together," McDonald said.
St. Vincent's staff knew mobile home parks were in need of new storage sheds, he said. Instead of just buying them, Lane County students are getting hands-on learning.
"I like working with my hands," senior Jarett Spaid said. "It's a lot better than sitting at a desk."
Spaid plans on working in the construction industry after graduation. His teacher, Kishen, said he's proud of what his students are accomplishing.
"They're smart and they're working hard," Kishen said. "Kids are really, really capable."
Principal Kevin Rodemack said he's happy to see more investment in CTE.
"Our kids are learning so much," Rodemack said. "Not everyone is going to college. And that's okay."
Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Rural Oregon students learn construction skills in new class
