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Building homes, building skills

Toys and decorations in the yards at Aspen Circle tell visitors that this is a family neighborhood. Students in the construction technology classes at Minot High School who were hauling Sheetrock on Friday morning are leaving monuments to the future on the cul de sac where they are building yet another residence.

“I love doing this,” said junior Brad Cooper. “It gives me a lot of pride that I helped build a house.”

Cooper and 18 other juniors and seniors in Justin Racine’s classes have been working on building the house since the start of the school year.

Several years ago, the Minot Public School District purchased seven lots in the Aspen Circle neighborhood. Students have built houses that were then sold by the district. Proceeds from the sales are funneled back into the construction technology program. There are still three remaining lots in the neighborhood, counting the one where the house is under construction. Prior to purchasing the lots at Aspen Circle, Minot High construction tech students built houses on lots located across the street from Magic City Campus.

The house is 1,800 square feet, larger than some of the other houses under construction in the area, and has three bedrooms on the main floor, said Racine.

“It has custom cabinets, good windows, good doors,” said Racine. “The materials we use are top of the line , the materials the good contractors are using. We don’t use cheap materials.”

Racine, a teacher who has his own construction company, said his students have learned how to do framing, insulation, roofing, drywalling and Sheetrocking. They are not allowed to do electrical or plumbing work, but they do get to watch electricians and plumbers at work. In the second year class, construction technology students have the opportunity to work as interns with a local firm.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said senior Devin Garberg, who said he works with his father’s business. He is interested in studying construction technology in college. Cooper wants to be an electrician.

Racine said the construction technology class offers valuable work experience for students who are interested in a variety of career paths.

“Not all kids are going to go to college,” said Racine, but a career in one of the trades like plumbing or electrical work can be a good career. “The average plumber in North Dakota makes $51,000. That’s a good living for someone without a degree.”

Racine said students who are interested in a four-year degree program might pursue engineering, architecture, construction management or other related fields.

“The kids love getting out of school and the regular classroom,” said Racine.

Racine likes the work too. He earned a degree in social studies and taught in that area for four years but said he decided to switch to teaching construction trades instead. He took the construction technology class when he was in high school himself, he said, and he likes this field and working with his students.

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