Central Campus class constructs home from ground up

Hands-on work experience means sawdust on your pants and mud on your boots for students in Central Campus’ home building class.

The course began with a piece of land on the north side of Easter Lake in Des Moines. Over three years, classes have been bussed to the site during four class blocks to work on the dwelling’s foundation, structure, plumbing, electrical, siding and trim. Slated for completion in the 2016-17 school year, the house will be sold to fund the next project site and materials.

“College level problem solving skills learned in this course can be applied in so many areas,” instructor Ben Molloy said.

He estimates that about half or more of his students will go into construction-related fields. One of his former students started a roofing company, another started a trim and siding business and two went into real estate.

“There are past students in just about every Union Hall in Des Moines as well as in just about every home construction trade,” he said.

Eighteen students are currently enrolled in the two-level class. The fall semester course is at 75 percent capacity. Students in grades 10 through 12 can take the classes to earn 21 DMACC credits in addition to their high school credits. The program provides a link to the local union apprenticeship program, DMACC programs and other training facilities.

“A student with carpenter skills could go out in the work force and make approximately $15 to $20 per hour and a contractor could make approximately $35 per hour or more,” Molloy said, emphasizing that students don’t always need to go to college for such jobs. “These jobs could also help students pay for college or go towards other trades such as architecture.”

Molloy took trim carpentry and cabinetry classes at Tech High School in 1976 and went into remodeling. In 1984, he started teaching the home remodeling classes at Central and has been teaching home building for the last five years.

As the construction teacher, he said he is “the contractor, the sub-contractor, the nurse, the bus driver and sometimes the counselor to the students.”

The construction classes are part of the Central Campus Building Technologies cluster, which also includes classes in painting, drywall and welding.

Home remodeling sites were originally houses selected to be demolished by the city, but purchased by the school district with Community Development Block Grant funds for $15 per house.

“That was too much money to pay for those houses, in my opinion,” Molloy said. “Those houses were in terrible shape. We gutted them to a shell and basically started over.”

Now, due to lead paint and insurance issues, the home building class purchases land and builds a new house from the ground up. The current house is being built not just to current building energy code, but to code expected to be in place in 2019.

As part of coursework, students complete Occupational Safety and Health Administration training to learn about safe practices with hard hats, safety glasses, scaffoldings and tools.

In the past, classes have taken field trips to lumber sites in Colorado to gain insight into the workings of the lumber industry.

Junior Sai Baht of East High School is in the first-year construction class and enjoys the opportunity to work on a variety of projects. He said siding is his favorite type of work so far, because the class worked together on it and developed a sense of camaraderie.

This class was Hoover junior Alex Hull’s first experience with construction. He found he enjoys roofing and is now considering starting a business.

“I would like to thank Leachman Lumber, Bell Brothers Heating and Air Conditioning, Wolin Electrical, Schlievert Plumbing, Logan supplies, 3E electrical supply, G & L Clothing, Baker Electrical, City Supply plumbing for their professional expertise, donations and discounts on materials and services through the years,” Molloy said.

The last house completed by Central classes sold for less than expected, creating a $30,000 loss. To finish the current project, the class needs help purchasing wall and floor coverings, doors, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, concrete and about 70 feet of chain link fencing. People interested in donating items or money can contact barry.molloy@dmschools.org or 202-2426.

About this series

The Des Moines Register is taking a look at some of the unique courses — from auto body repair to robotics — offered at Des Moines Central Campus. The school draws 1,500 students from 29 central Iowa school districts who take classes in 30 career and technical areas and 35 advanced courses not available at most traditional high schools.