Construction Academy

by Tristan Langford, Junior & Carley Carpenter, Senior

October 28, 2016

Construction Academy is a class offered at Fergus High where students spend two hours of the school day learning the essentials of constructing a house. The class, taught by Mr. Drivdahl and Mr. Peevey, travels to an empty field where students construct a house. Mr. Drivdahl explained that the students learn how to perform the essential tasks of what it takes to build a house: drywall, flooring, roofing, plumbing, framing, etc. Mr. Drivdahl also said he enjoys teaching the class because it's a two hour long class during sixth and seventh period, and it gives him the opportunity to bond with his students, especially because there are only eight students in the class. Drivdahl expressed that he really enjoys being able to bond with the students and getting to know them on a personal level. “I know that at least half of my past students have already used what they learned in my class in real life situations,” said Drivdahl. After noting that this is his last year, Drivdahl also mentioned that there might be difficulty in replacing his position because Montana colleges no longer offer the Industrial Arts degree. Vice Principal Jeff Friesen said “we are going to do everything in our power to continue the Industrial Arts program as it exists now.” Friesen seemed very optimistic that the class will continue in the years to come.

After relaying a brief statement about what the class is, senior Kai Krumwiede told about how the class functions. “We carpool up to the site which is right next to the college, and we just pick up where we left off the day before. We have to make sure that we wear our hard hats and tool belts though, so that is the first thing we do when we get to the site,” said Krumwiede. “We are building the house in two parts, because it has to be transported in two parts to fit on the highway. It is a two story house with 1,680 square feet, but that doesn’t include the basement. That part is poured with concrete, not built.” The house will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, and the kitchen and living room are both 20 feet by 15 feet

After questioning senior Drake Henson, we learned that his expectations are “to build a well structured house, have fun doing it, and get a lot of experience.” Henson also explained that the house is considered a modular home, and it is being made for a private owner. When done, they will take the house to the owner’s property and finish the job. Henson also told us that the house has already been purchased for $120,000.

At the time interviewed, the students had just finished the flooring, and were hoping to start the walls in the next week. “We are trying to get the walls put up and a roof put on before heavy snow starts falling. That way we can bring in a heater and just work on the inside of the house. That will probably take all winter, and then in the spring we will resume work on the outside with the siding and roofing.” Krumwiede is the only student this year who is taking the class for a second time. He likes the opportunity, and hopes that the experience will pay off in his profession. Similarly, Henson relayed that “building things interested me, and [this class] will help me, perhaps for future jobs.” Students enjoy the class because they feel they are getting real life experience for their future professions; the impact on students has been huge. This will be the ninth house that the Construction Academy class has built, and the staff hopes to continue with the tenth house next year.