Kuna launches construction trade program at new high school

Shortly after the school district approved the future construction of Kuna’s third high school, stakeholders from various industries partnered with school district administrators to design and outfit learning spaces for construction, automotive and diesel tech, health care and other in-demand, and growing, professions.

Today, Swan Falls High School has approximately 216 students in its recently opened construction trades program, after COVID-19 and the building’s completion delayed the full launch of the program to November 2020. To help create the program, local home builder CBH Homes donated $120,000. The construction program’s garage-like wing has approximately 20 modular “stations” (mainly work tables) where freshmen and sophomores try out various industry skills — framing, plumbing, electrical, tiling and more.

On a Tuesday afternoon, about 10 students are working on projects, two per module. Two freshmen are watching a video that will help prepare them for the eventual hands-on class time. Instructor Rick Brown, who recently left the construction industry, makes his way around the shop-like room.

“My brain is already turning to what we’re gonna do now that we have an age group of kids that have been in our intro class,” Brown said. “It’s gonna be exciting to put something together and start these guys off. I’m a firm believer in not every student is ready to go on to a four-year university and there’s some really neat opportunities for them in the construction trades. … So far (teaching has) been wonderful and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

With the donation, Swan Falls High School was able to purchase equipment, tools, curriculum resources, gear and more to get the program up and running. CBH also helped design art, signage and window wrapping for the new space. The partnership will continue into the future, Swan Falls High School staff and CBH representatives stated.

“When Swan Falls High School approached CBH to partner with them on this new program, it was an easy yes,” CBH said in a statement.  “With a decline in the trade partner work force and an increase in demand for housing, CBH is doubling their efforts to not only promote the construction industry but educate students on the benefits.”

In spite of pandemic challenges, Idaho’s desirability and economic momentum resulted in a growth situation for construction, which is now up 2,300 jobs, or 4.3%, from November 2019 to November 2020, according to Idaho Department of Labor’s Idaho Labor Market report, a “nonfarm job” second to natural resources. The report was released January 2021, and the construction field has been projected to be one of fastest-growing for years.

When asked what he understands the current need in the construction industry to be, Brown responded, “Absolutely anything and everything.”

“One of the big limiting factors to most construction companies now is the labor force, and getting some younger people that want to jump into it,” he added.

“Our end goal is really connecting students with those industry partners,” said Michael Wiedenfeld, career and technical education administrator for the school district. “CBH homes is an awesome, local group to do that. The proximity of CBH and the number of houses that they built here … (there’s opportunity) for the instructor to say, ‘Let’s take a walking field trip’ … (students) can basically see the entire progression through that process.”

What’s next for the program?

Because the program is young and consists primarily of underclassmen, Swan Falls High School’s partnership with CBH Homes and other industry stakeholders is still evolving, according to Wiedenfeld, though conversations around that evolution are continuing, and another one is due to happen in the next month or two. Wiedenfeld added that construction-related businesses are welcome to contact him if they are interested in becoming involved with the program.

As the freshmen and sophomores become juniors and seniors, the hope is to connect them with field trips, mentorship programs or even apprenticeship programs. Mindy Williams, who leads the school district’s work-based learning program, is excited to help coordinate that.

“It’s this cool opportunity for these kids to have all these programs; we didn’t have anything like this when we went to school,” Williams said. “And just to develop those foundational skills, and then from the work-based learning side of it, I just think it’ll be so much easier to approach industry if (the students) have…done safety tests, OSHA 10 certifications, and they have a basic level of understanding. They can really jump in and actually work and see what a day in the life of these employers is.”

“The construction industry is more than just construction; it’s for entrepreneurs who want to start their own business; it’s for philanthropists who want to build a better community; it’s for innovators who want to find a new, more efficient way,” Corey Barton, president and owner of CBH Homes, said in a statement. He spoke in Swan Falls High School’s construction classes April 12.

“We want students to see all of the options that they have,” Barton continued. “College doesn’t have to be the only answer. We need smart, eager, hard-working people to join the industry. There is so much untapped potential for those looking to be successful, we want to show these students that the construction industry is a viable option.”