Students in the Star Valley High School Residential Construction Program, with support from The LCSD2 Education Foundation and Bank of Star Valley (BOSV), have completed their second house in three years through the program. Administrators, teachers and families gathered on May 27 for an open house in the newly finished home at 302 Honeybee in Afton.
“These students are amazing,” said Michael Mattson, who teaches the Construction Program. “They could choose to do something easy and just coast, but they chose to come out in all sorts of weather and do something hard. They are awesome!”
LCSD2 Education Foundation carries the budget for the construction projects, which allows tax benefits, generating more funding for the program. According to Rod Jensen, who has served as President of BOSV, the program will eventually reach perpetuity, becoming self-funded.
BOSV purchases the lots and provides a line of credit at two percent interest for construction on each home. This allows students to “see how that construction loan works,” explained Jensen. Through the loan, “they get the lot and the building materials. We do advances and inspections. They see the construction process from not only building, but the paperwork and the banker’s side. We charge two percent interest so the kids can see that money has a cost. As soon as we advance it, there is an ongoing cost. Then, we donate the two percent pack to the program. So, they are getting the full picture. It’s just a wonderful program.”
Completion of a home requires roughly eight to twelve months on the site, depending on the size of the class and the weather. Students who hope to be part of the program must complete Entry Level Woodworking and Construction I to learn about tools and safety rules. Construction II classes construct a shed. Following these three trimesters of prerequisites, students can enroll in Residential Construction.
Jensen was pleased to announce that there are two more lots reserved for use of the program. “We are ready to start house number three! I want to thank Star Valley High School and Lincoln County School district # 2. They are so supportive of the students here. This couldn’t happen without the education foundation and the school district. It’s just a wonderful thing and such a wonderful effort.”
“This is spectacular,” said Jason Horsley, LCSD#2 Director of Education. “We appreciate Mike [Mattson] and the Bank of Star Valley, and all the students who have worked so hard on it. It’s a wonderful program that we have, and the plan is to keep doing it!”
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