Construction trade program offers students skills and a head start

Stonington — In a workshop, amid band saws, router tables, and tools of all types, slightly more than a dozen students, halfway through the first year of a pilot trade program at the high school, are beginning to put their knowledge into practice.

"I’m very excited to take this class, because I need the training in high school," said Gage Trebilcock, who intends to work at Electric Boat after graduation, as he glued boards together this past Thursday for a project the class is working on.

The first students in the state to take part in the Home Builders Institute's Schools to Skills pre-credentialing apprenticeship program for construction trades were each building a Shaker style end table under the guidance of teacher Dean Rocha and David Preka, chairman and president of the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut.

"You guys are doing a fantastic job," Preka told students. He said he was encouraged by their accomplishments so far this year.

Preka, who also owns Advanced Group, was at the high school to give advice and provide a bit of mentoring to the students he said the trade industry desperately needs.

"We’re working with HBI to develop this program because there is a lot of shortage in this industry, so we’re just trying to encourage kids, and really people in general, to understand that this is a need for generations to come, because the generation that we have right now in this industry is in their 60's," he said.

The Schools to Skills program, currently used in 33 states, is funded by a two-year, $10,000 grant from HBI, which pays for professional development for instructors, curriculum and costs associated with testing for students. It is one of only three curricula used nationwide and approved by the United States Department of Labor, as well as several state education departments, according to HBI.

The first semester of the class was mostly classroom work comprised of four modules, including tools and construction materials, construction mathematics, safety in the workplace and employability. Successful completion of the modules and testing will earn students up to 200 hours towards an apprenticeship in one of the trade fields.

The hands-on learning of the second semester is intended to integrate terminology, safety skills, tool knowledge and best practices into a real-world application.

While using a square to precisely measure 8-inch lengths of pine for his table, Senior Alex Starr said he wants to become an ultrasound technician, but he thinks many of the skills he is learning will be helpful to him in the future.

"I like the class and being able to come in and do hands-on stuff instead of being in class all day," he said, adding that he does not mind his regular academic classes, but he enjoys the chance to work with materials instead of books for part of his day.

While students worked, Preka walked around the class discussing different types of joinery for boards, explaining how to keep wood from warping and casually getting students to apply their learning to understand what they were doing.

"What is the purpose of the skirt here," Preka asked, and nodded while praising students for right answers they shouted out. He explained that the skirt, pieces of wood joining the legs together, will make the table look good but also provide stability for the end table, which will stand on tapered legs the students will make themselves.

After the students cleaned up, Preka promised them he would be back as often as they needed him, and he would cover topics like employability as well as lend his expertise to ensure they have a good head start on their careers.

"I will be here as many times as they need – not just here, but throughout the state, and not just me, but all our fellow members of the Home Builders Association," he said.

This year, the program was structured to offer the trade course in conjunction with a manufacturing pipeline class, which required back-to-back class periods to fulfill all the requirements of both programs.

Principal Alicia Dawe said, next year, classes will be offered separately, giving students in the HBI program the chance to do internships with local companies, like Preka's, if their course schedule allows.