THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501170114
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Coastal Journal
SOURCE: Mary Reid Barrow
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
The taxpayers' investment in schools is thought of as a long-term investment. Yet there are some Virginia Beach Vo-Tech students who are giving us taxpayers an immediate return on our dollar.
Students in the school's construction classes are building a park ranger's house at Seashore State Park. While getting valuable hands-on experience, the students also are saving the state thousands of dollars in labor costs.
When plans for a park assistant superintendent's dwelling were put out for bid last year, the low bid came in at $137,000, 37 percent over the state's budgeted amount of $100,000, said the park superintendent, Fred Hazelwood. In addition, the budgeted amount included design work and administration costs while the low bid was for construction costs only.
With a new assistant superintendent due to arrive at the park this spring, park officials turned to Vo-Tech students for help.
The students went to work in the fall to build the two-bedroom, two-bath house. As a result, the project will cost the state an estimated 10 to 15 percent under budget, said Hazelwood said.
The high school seniors who are participating in the project are students in masonry, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning and landscape design classes. In all, about 75 Vo-Tech students will have the opportunity to gain experience in building a real house before they graduate, said carpentry teacher Paul Abretski.
``This is great,'' Abretski said. ``If we were back at school, we'd be building models and storage barns and things like that. Here they get hands-on experience. Here they are 25 feet up in the air on a full-sized project.''
That day students Randy Lee, Mike Taylor and Alain Roulette were all up at least 25 feet high. The trio was perched on the roof where they were nailing plywood sheathing to the angled wooden roof trusses.
Another student, Roger Dillon, was on a ladder helping from below and park ranger Rob Borjes was handing up the sheathing. Abretski was keeping an eye on the work, but he rarely said a word. The students went about their jobs with confidence.
Masonry students began the job in October, building the foundation and laying the brick skirt. In November Abretski's students began framing the house. Soon the masonry students will be back on the job, building the fireplace and before too long, the other trade classes will be coming in to finish off the house.
``This way, they get to work with the other trades like they would in real life,'' Abretski said. ``This is real life.''
Abretski said his students are not only learning but are enjoying the work, too. Roulette even had Abretski out on the job during the Christmas holiday so he could put in a few extra hours. During the school week students are required only to work from noon to 2 p.m., but they usually work overtime, Abretski said.
``They come out earlier than they have to and they come out on their own time,'' he said. ``They'll be here until four unless they have someplace they have to go.''
There are distinct advantages for the state, too, noted Park Ranger Donn Leavenworth. Besides saving money, the students bring real expertise to the job because they are working for a grade. In addition they are reliable and on the job every day because they are in school.
``It's been a real fun project to see the kids' enthusiasm,'' Leavenworth said. ``They are real motivated.''
Next year, the park is hoping again to take advantage of the good attributes that Vo-Tech students bring to the job, Leavenworth said. They are hoping to work together to build a new visitor center for the park.
``It's a win-win situation all the way around,'' Leavenworth said.
P.S. The lives of plantation slaves will be explored in performances by the Department of African-American Interpretation and Presentations for Colonial Williamsburg at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday at the Francis Land House. The program, ``African-Americans, Slavery and the Virginia Plantation,'' will consist of music, rhythms, dialogues and story telling.
Tickets, $4 for adults and $2 for students, 6 to 18, can be purchased in advance.
Call 340-1732.
CHILLING TALES, a series of spine-tingling stories, will be told throughout Norfolk's Hunter House Victorian Museum at 7 and 8 p.m. Friday and at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $3 and reservations are required. Call 623-9814.
WILDFLOWER PHOTOGRAPHER Pat Baldwin of Williamsburg will give a slide presentation at the Hampton Roads Native Plant Society meeting at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Central Library.
The meeting is open to the public. MEMO: What unusual nature have you seen this week? And what do you know about
Tidewater traditions and lore? Call me on INFOLINE, 640-5555. Enter
category 2290. Or, send a computer message to my Internet address:
mbarrow(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by MARY REID BARROW
Virginia Beach Vo-Tech students work on the roof of the new park
ranger building at Seashore State Park. On this day, Randy Lee,
left, Mike Taylor and Alain Roulette were nailing plywood sheathing
to the angled wooden roof trusses. Another student, Roger Dillon,
was on a ladder helping from below, and park ranger Rob Borjes was
handing up the sheathing.
by CNB