The Crookston High School has a new Community Projects class, and they are staying busy with several different projects. Industrial Tech Teacher Travis Oliver is teaching the course and came up with the idea.
Oliver talked a bit about what the class is and how it got started. “Community Projects is a new class this year after we hit pause on our Construction Trades class,” said Oliver. “With that, we had to fill not only my schedule but the students’ schedule as well. So, we came up with the idea to do some stuff for people around the community who maybe haven’t gotten projects done or maybe some projects that people want to get done but haven’t had the people to do them.”
There are 16 students in the class, and Oliver says he has had all the students in one or more of his prior classes. Oliver says the students come prepared and are very skilled. Each one has a good set of skills and needs some improvement in other areas, making the class fun for Oliver to teach.
Two of the bigger projects that the class is currently working on is building some new tables and benches. “With Jake Solberg and the Crookston Parks & Recreation Department, we are building some high-top tables to go behind some of the seating at the rink,” said Oliver. “That way, people can stand if they want to while they watch the games. So, I got about 5-6 kids working on that project.”
Some of the students are working on the other main project, building new benches for the High School locker rooms. “We’re also working on new benches for the locker rooms here at the High School because the benches that are in there are the original benches from 20 years ago, and they’re looking a little beat up,” said Oliver. “So, we got 4-5 kids working on new benches there, and we’re making them out of maple, and each one will have wording or a logo on it. The kids are excited to work on that stuff and leave their mark.”
Oliver said there are also a few future projects in the works, and depending on some decisions that get made, the class may be helping the city create another Welcome to Crookston sign for next spring.
Oliver says the class is an overall positive for the school and the community because everyone wins through these projects. “I think it’s an overall positive thing because if kids are giving back to their community and helping people, it’s a good thing,” said Oliver. “We’re not really asking for anything in return either, maybe a pizza party for the kids. That seems like a small price to pay to have these students work on these projects.”
For the entire conversation with Travis Oliver, you can tune in to KROX Saturday morning at 8:35 for the Focus on Education program. Oliver also discussed other projects students would be working on and how students who aren’t in the class could potentially get involved. You can listen on 105.7 FM, 1260 AM, or by clicking “Listen Live” at the top of this page.
KROX will be checking back in with Oliver and the students in the class as those projects get closer to completion.
The post CROOKSTON HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY PROJECTS CLASS STAYING BUSY appeared first on KROX.
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