STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Jose Ruiz was one of the first interns with the Blaine County Schools’ Construction Academy when it started 15 years ago.

He now not only works as a roofer in the Wood River Valley but lives in one of the first homes built by the Jim Woodyard Residential Construction Academy in Carey.

A teacher for the district lives in one of the other homes built by academy students.

“This program is changing lives. You’re learning not only what you’ll need to know should you decide to go into a career associated with construction but you’re learning lifetime skills you can use even if you just want to hang a picture in the home you live in,” Sue Woodyard told members of the academy on Friday.

A brisk wind from the north raked the construction site at the corner of Woodside Boulevard and Winterhaven Drive as 14 students hammered away Friday afternoon. But no one complained. They were eager to frame a window try to get walls up before the snow sets in.

But the students happily took time out Friday for a presentation of several checks to the program, which is  supported by the Building Contractors of the Wood River Valley.

Jenny Linch and Franklin Building Supply presented the students with a $10,000 check, raised from a ladies golf tournament and ladies DIY night Linch organized. Kristy Heitzman presented them with a check for $1,180 from the Blaine County Education Foundation. And Mary Jo Helmeke presented them with an undisclosed amount from the community that Woodyard promised was enough money to provide scholarships for youngsters going on to technical schools for the next 10 years.

Woodyard’s husband—the late Jim Woodyard—was a real estate developer who started the academy with former Blaine County Superintendent Jim Lewis in 2002. Lewis wanted to start some academies and construction was the No. 1 thing kids wanted to learn.

Academy students built their first house in the parking lot of Carey School, then had to figure out where to move it. The money from the sale of that house was parlayed into the next house.

“At the time they started the academy, the housing market was booming and we needed a skilled labor force,” recalled Woodyard. “Everybody’s getting older. Who’s going to replace the guy who can build beautiful staircases? Who’s going to build guys like Greg Carlson and Greg Urbany who can teach building? We need to bring up new young talent.”

Students have built six homes in Carey. The home they’re working on now is the third in Hailey.

It’s a slow process, considering they get to spend only 1 and a half hours a day on it. They poured the foundation for the 1,500-square-foot, three-bed, two-bath, two-car garage residence on March 28. And the site sat untouched during summer when the kids were out of school.

It typically takes a year and a half to build a home, said Carlson.

The students would love to work on it full time, Urbany said.

“They’re so engaged in the whole process. They can’t wait to get out here. And they want to get it right. They really take ownership of it,” he added.

Don’t think any corners are being cut because the houses are being built by students.

“They have to pass the same inspections that everyone else’s constructions projects do. So they’re built for quality,” Carlson said.

There are other school construction programs in Idaho but this is one of the few where students actually get to build a house, Carlson said. Blaine County School students not only get to build houses but they have the opportunity to learn computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting.

In fact, students designed all three of the houses they’ve built on Winterhaven Drive.

Both Manuel Orozco and Anastasie Echeverria would like to end up in one of the 150 trades associated with construction.

“It’s fun. And I like this because I’m learning more technique out here than I would in a classroom,” Orozco said.

Echeverria concurred: “I like being outside and being hands on. I’m surprised how long the process takes, though.”

Woodyard told the students that they would be offered paid internships with valley contractors next summer, as well as a chance to visit various building projects.

“Truly, this is a celebration of the collaboration of community and the school district and the building profession in our community,” she added.