While Perry-Lecompton High School is becoming well-known for its high ACT scores, it is becoming equally well-known for its commercial construction technology program.

The program which began in 2002 with the building of the industrial arts addition averages 10 to 11 students per semester.

“There’s only eight in the class this semester,” says Rhett Scrimsher, class facilitator, “although we’ve had as many as 15. The program is sponsored by the Association of General Contractors (AGC), which initially helped secure contractors from Topeka and Lawrence for in-service in the different crafts that we provide.”

Scrimsher said that the program offers units in concrete, framing, heating and air, plumbing, electrical, dry wall, acoustical, door and hardware, surveying, demolition, and job safety.

“When the construction program was first set up, we decided to focus on commercial construction although the units taught can be adapted to most construction situations,” Scrimsher said. “There are only three other programs like it in the state.”

Scrimsher said the program began when Mike Copple came to the district as an industrial arts teacher. Wanting to start a construction class, Copple, Scrimsher, and Wayne Ledbetter, PLHS career coordinator met with Neil Fisher of Kansas Building Systems who told of a need for construction workers in the work force—not just in residential construction, but in commercial as well. After meeting with Dave Praisewater of Topeka West High School, who already had a class of this nature, and looking at one that Wichita East offered, the decision was made to go the commercial construction route.

Although Scrimsher said that while he teaches some of the units, he prefers to consider himself the facilitator. “The students want to learn from someone in the field.” Because of student interest, the majority of the class is taught by area contractors when they are available. One of those often found helping the class is Lawrence contractor Howard Stultz of Howard Stultz Construction who’s been with the program since its beginning.

“I can volunteer for a while,” Stultz said. “My money’s made. I try to encourage kids to get into the construction field. I hope I can introduce them to another trade and teach them to be self-sufficient.”

While Stultz acknowledges that the construction field has fallen on hard times recently and there’s usually quite a bit of time off due to weather and other issues, the field offers a good wage and a good retirement. “I try to encourage kids to get into the construction field and see what they can do.”

Stultz also believes working with the high school students has benefits for him: it makes him feel younger. “It’s great to see their enthusiasm.”

During the course of the year students in the class learn how to pour concrete and how to set forms, how to set interior metal framing and hang wall board, and how to prepare the job site among other skills. Whenever possible, students put their skills to actual use.

“I always have them do a contextual project when I can,” Scrimsher said, noting that his class “built the soccer scoreboard, including all the trenching and electrical installation” and has done other construction for the district.

In addition to the beginning construction technology class, students have the opportunity to continue learning about the trades in a second class where they are actually set up with a contractor of their choice and get paid for their work.

“The contractors who have come in are interested in promoting their craft,” Scrimsher said. “But if they see a kid with that ‘spark’ they’re happy to help them.

While many contractors have helped out over the years, Scrimsher said the current economy has made it a bit more difficult to place them. “We’ve had them with BA Green and Kansas Building Systems, both general contractors, and we’ve also placed interns with Hamm’s.”

Those interested in going into the advanced course should ideally take the beginning course in their junior year, Scrimsher said. That would allow them to go into the advanced course during their senior year.

Following the second course some students have continued their studies by going on to work with contractors for more training while “several have gone on to K-State for construction science or engineering degrees.”

Scrimsher sees the construction technology course as “one step on the way in a career path. Students have a name and a face to make connections and can hook up with the person later on.”

And while the current class is composed of only males, all involved try to encourage girls to consider the class as well. Copple, now assistant principal at PLHS, said that women are in demand in construction.

“Women are much more detail oriented,” said Copple. “Their finish work tends to be better. If contractors could find qualified women, they’d take them immediately.”

Principal J.B. Elliott notes that while some area schools have dropped all or part of their industrial arts classes, he sees the program at PLHS continuing to grow.

“We’ve had several parents express interest in this, since other schools no longer offer industrial arts programs,” he said. “As jobs get harder to obtain, more kids may be interested into using this to get into the work force.

Elliott also says that the program teaches students hands-on techniques and by bringing in actual contractors, it furthers employee-employer relationships.

He also notes that while industrial arts classes are expensive, the school receives some of the funding for the class through the VE-II program.
Copple agrees on the value of the program despite the cost: “It serves a percentage of kids that plan on that as a career path. It’s one of the things that makes PLHS unique.”

Perhaps the best recommendation for the class though comes from those who take it.

“I wanted to get more involved and get more knowledge of building,” junior Tyler Bedford said. “Hanging drywall is fun.”

Devin Carey said that while he didn’t have a particular reason for taking the class, he enjoys hard labor and especially liked the electrical unit. “Wiring up circuits is interesting although they’ve [the units] all been okay. I like how we can bring in contractors who have more experience than teachers. It shows their good hearts when they volunteer.”

For sophomore Dustin Shuck, taking the class has allowed him to learn skills needed in the construction business and allowed him to do some work at home. “I like showing my dad I can do it,” he said.