Page 5 - TTMNSummer2025

Construction
Teaching Today Minnesota | Summer/Back to School 2025 Page 5

Students Gaining Valuable Home Construction Knowledge While Filling a Critical Need
training at the high school. At the same time, in Goodhue and two classes of 22 total
GCHFH was recruiting local realtor Lana students in Kenyon-Wanamingo helped set
Huemann to their board of directors. Lana the forms and pour the concrete footings,
suggested that GCHFH Executive Director set ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) blocks
Bob Hawley meet with Gough and Rehder. for the foundation and filled the blocks with
Within a short time, plans were being made concrete from a pumper truck, capped the
for a collaboration between the school and basement with floor joists and plywood,
the Habitat affiliate for a high school home constructed wood interior and exterior
construction class. walls, set roof trusses and capped the roof
Hawley was also aware that the Ken- with plywood, installed windows and
yon-Wanamingo School did not have a doors, insulated walls, painted and sided the
home construction class. He approached exterior, installed exterior and interior trim,
Superintendent Beth Giese, who immedi- installed flooring and much more.
ately saw value in the concept and became The school districts supplied tools and
a supporter for her school. Discussion and equipment for the home construction classes,
planning led to the formation of a collabo- including scaffolds. The schools provided
ration between GCHFH and both schools safety training. GCHFH utilizes local
for the 2024–25 school year and two homes contractors for more technical needs, such as
were constructed. HVAC, electrical, plumbing, excavating and
GCHFH serves as the General Con- roofing. As much as possible, the students
Bob Hawley, Executive Director homes for Habitat families with their high tractor for the construction of the homes, witnessed and learned about these trades in
Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity school home construction classes. providing house plans, construction addition to carpentry and house construction
techniques.
financing, sub-contractor engagement and
Students in two Goodhue County, Goodhue High School students, coordination, and construction oversight. The collaborations were strongly sup-
Minnesota schools are gaining valuable interested in learning home construction Goodhue High School hired Mike Harvey to ported by the respective communities and
home construction knowledge and are techniques and skills, had been able to do be the instructor for the home construction worked so well that both schools decided
filling a critical need for their communities. so until a shared program with Zumbrota- class of six students. The students worked to extend their home construction collabo-
Both Goodhue High School and Kenyon- Mazeppa Schools ended in 2023. The every school day for 90 minutes, begin- ration for another year. The success of the
Wanamingo High School are collaborating Goodhue School Board, Superintendent Evan ning at 8:15 AM. Kenyon-Wanamingo High program motivated each school and GCHFH
with Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity Gough and Principal Michele Rehder formed School engaged Doug Thompson for their to seek funding from the Minnesota Housing
(GCHFH) to construct affordable, workforce a committee of local business supporters to class of 22 students. The class was spit into Community Homeownership Impact Fund
find a way to continue providing technical
two overlapping sessions beginning at 12:15 — Housing Challenge Funds for Schools.
PM each school day. Doug Kleese, a local These funds are awarded to schools for
contractor, volunteered to provide additional direct costs related to the construction of
supervision for the large class. homes.
Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwestrades Institute of the Upper Midwest Habitat utilizes volunteers to construct Once again, collaboration produced
Finishing T
Apprenticeship homes for families selected to become success. Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools were
Apprenticeship. College. . College.
homeowners. The families purchase the
awarded $61,690 for their second home.
A lifetime of success.
A lifetime of success. homes and provide sweat equity as they work Goodhue Schools were awarded $99,030 for
with Habitat staff and volunteers to construct their second home. A portion of the funding
their own home. Both homes were for single for each school is for purchasing addi-
mothers with one and two children. Both had tional tools, and a tool trailer in Goodhue.
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN YOUR TRADE.
basements with bedrooms and bathrooms. Much of the funding will pay the cost of
JOIN A UNION FAMILY WHO HAS YOUR BACK. The homes were designed to accommodate technical subcontractor work on the homes
GET ACCESS TO ON-SITE CAREER families as they age with kitchen, living — HVAC, plumbing and electrical, as well
AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS. room, bedroom, bathroom and laundry on as the moving cost for the Goodhue house.
BUILD A DEBT-FREE CAREER. the main floor. Each has an attached single- The second house in Goodhue will be con-
car garage. structed on a school site and then moved to a
GCHFH planned to increase home permanent site in Lake City.
FTIUM IS A NEW MODEL FOR production in Goodhue County. However, Goodhue Schools, Kenyon-Wanamingo
HIGHER EDUCATION OFFERING since Covid, volunteer numbers had Schools and Goodhue County Habitat
for Humanity understand the value their
diminished. The school home construction
FREE TRAINING IN TRADES: class approach helped Habitat fill the collaboration brings to all involved. Students
Commercial Painter volunteer void. Additional volunteers gain strong, useful knowledge and experience.
were needed to complete the homes in both Schools are not only providing the students
Coating Application Specialist Goodhue and Kenyon. Rochester Build this wonderful opportunity but are benefiting
Crew, a dedicated, skilled volunteer group their greater communities with affordable
Drywall Finisher effectively filled that need in Kenyon, homes. GCHFH is satisfying its mission
Glazier working alongside the students two days of building homes, hope and community,
each week. A few other dedicated volunteers and nurturing the very important culture of
Glassworker from Zumbrota helped in Goodhue, with volunteerism. It is a ‘win’ for all.
Sign Technician instructor Harvey and GCHFH staff
supplementing the students’ efforts.
Students were involved with goodhue.k12.mn.us
constructing both the Goodhue home www.kw.k12.mn.us
and the Kenyon home from the basement
Learn more at FTIUM.edu
footings to the roof. One class of six students