A construction site on the west side of Oconto Falls served as a classroom for a dozen Oconto Falls High School students who spent part of their school days building a duplex for low-income tenants.
For a second year in a row, students in the construction class helped build a duplex on King Street for NEWCAP, a private, nonprofit agency that assists low-income residents. The one-bedroom units at 560 and 562 King St. will welcome tenants on July 1.
The duplexes are designed for a single person or couple and offer quality handicap-accessible, low-income housing.
Students, working with local contractors, were involved in every aspect of construction.
“You pick up a little bit of everything,” said Cole Magnin, student foreman. “When you graduate you can take it out into the real world.”
Magnin, a 2015 graduate of OFHS, plans to work for Magnin Landscape for a year before attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College to learn a trade.
Among other tasks, students helped to lay flooring, hang drywall and pull wires at the duplex.
“The kids do a nice job,” said Paul Mogged, NEWCAP oversite contractor.
He said the experience students gain often leads to a career in construction. For example, one student on the construction crew recently started an electrical apprenticeship.
Students in the class received matching sweatshirts at Thursday’s open house and ribbon cutting. They awarded an honorary sweatshirt to Mogged, to recognize his involvement with the project.
Bob and Nancy Mommaerts donated the land for the duplexes, and grants from the Wisconsin Division of Housing and corporate funds from NEWCAP were used for the project. The school plans to partner with NEWCAP to build two more duplexes over the next two school years. The framing work will start in the summer, followed by the indoor work during the school year.
