91视频

There’s a new emphasis on teaching the skilled trades in Beaverton public schools. With money from a $680 million bond approved by voters in 2014, Beaverton School District is preparing for a renovation and expansion of Merlo Station High School to accommodate a new commercial construction technology program.

CIDA has designed a $1 million shop and classroom space, complete with mechanical, electrical and plumbing mock-up walls. Construction is set to start in March 2020, though no contractor has been named yet.

鈥淲e have some really great partners in this work,鈥� said Janine Weir, the school district’s high school success coordinator. They’ve helped design the space, the building and what kinds of skills we need to address with our students. In a sense, we can’t hope to understand what’s happening in the industry if we don’t engage them.鈥�

Merlo Station is joining Aloha and Mountainside as high schools with construction technology programs. Currently, it’s offered as a six-week elective course. However, Merlo Station will host the district’s new magnet program. Students will be able to take part in what career and technical education (CTE) instructor Jon Hauben described as essentially a pre-apprenticeship program.

鈥淲e’re trying to give the students the best foundation we can,鈥� he said. 鈥淐ontractors and unions want to train them through their apprenticeship programs, and we’re trying to give them the soft skills 鈥� the beginning skills 鈥� they need. It’s a trade exploration where we’re going to expose them to plumbing, electrical 鈥� the basics of all these skills.鈥�

The Merlo Station curriculum is used by apprenticeship programs 鈥� either union or open shop. To that end, input delivered by area contractors and union training centers has been invaluable, Weir said. Some of the participating firms and groups include Worksystems Inc., Kirby Nagelhout Construction, Walsh Construction and INLINE Commercial Construction, as well as NECA/IBEW Local 48, the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, the Local 16 sheet metal training center and the Local 737 Laborers Training Center. But others are involved too.

鈥淭here are a million CTE programs popping up now, which is why (Beaverton School District) is engaging in district-level advisory committees,鈥� Weir said. 鈥淲e have three construction programs now 鈥� (and Merlo Station) will be the magnet school for many reasons. It also houses our re-engagement program, Passages. The hope is that by making this a magnet construction tech program we open it to community students and students who are re-engaging through Passages and that in itself becomes dropout prevention 鈥� having something where students can see themselves in careers.鈥�

Moreover, the magnet program is intended to specifically appeal to girls and minorities 鈥� groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in the construction industry.

Merlo Station over the summer hosted a middle school trades exploration camp for incoming seventh, eighth and ninth grade students. Students interested in the trades were offered a primer on potential careers. They even got hands-on experience constructing wooden formwork and pouring concrete through a series of curb replacement projects at the school district’s headquarters.

Right now, Merlo Station is ramping up its instruction. The full magnet program will include a lot more when it begins in fall 2020.

鈥淲e’re going to focus on framing and exposure to trades,鈥� Hauben said. 鈥淲e’re going to have welding equipment even, and next year we’re really going to be hitting the ground running.聽This year it’s about getting these students graduating this year some soft skills and placement into apprenticeship programs if they desire it.鈥�

Few of the students taking Hauben’s course this year intend to pursue careers in construction. Some said they consider it an opportunity to learn life skills.

鈥淚 can use this in later life, not as a career, but it could be just things that are in everyday use,鈥� Merlo Station senior Sean Peter said. 鈥淚f I need to build something in my home, instead of paying somebody else to do it for me, I can do it myself. My dad always tells me to learn some of these basic skills, and he taught me some of those skills in case you buy your own home.鈥�

Junior Eli Portwood wants to become a diesel mechanic. He believes the construction technology course could help him reach that goal.

鈥淚 heard the program starts with stuff like this and goes on to welding and electrical, and I find that useful information,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 figure since I’m here I might as well take it.鈥�
Hauben is excited about the possibilities to be found in an expanded construction and trades course.

鈥淚t’s really my hope that as this program gets off the ground that we can go to these industry leaders and say, 鈥楬ey, this student excels. Keep an eye out where can you place a person with these types of skills.’鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut we have to develop those types of relationships and the reputation of the students that come out of here.鈥�