North and South High School students, staff, and guests attended a Groundbreaking Ceremony for House Construction Project 2023 on Tuesday, September 12 at the construction site in the Stonebrook Crossing Subdivision on the south side of Sheboygan. Project 2023 is the 26th home that will be built by SASD students enrolled in Career & Technical Education classes from Sheboygan North and Sheboygan South High Schools.

The program included a welcome from Jason Duff, Academic and Career Planning Coordinator for the Sheboygan Area School District. Duff recognized and thanked the many community partners that make this project possible with their donations of supplies, use of equipment, time, and talent.

Superintendent Seth Harvatine also spoke at the program, emphasizing how important it is for schools to prepare students for the future by offering real-world, hands-on learning experiences like this one. The overarching goal of the Sheboygan Area School District Long Range Plan is to prepare all students to successfully take the next step in their self-defined career pathway after graduation. Experience gained in this House Construction class provides students with skills, experiences, and connections to pursue a career in construction trades.

Brian Doudna, Executive Director of the Sheboygan County Economic Development Corporation, also spoke at the event. He shared the extensive need for trade workers in our area, and how the students within this program can enter the workforce post-graduation with a strong knowledge base and even own their own business.

South High School graduate Emma Gosse designed this year’s house. Her design was selected last spring from the plans drawn by all students enrolled in our Project Lead the Way Civil Engineering and Architecture class.

This is the eighth home built under the direction of instructor and project manager Ted Schermetzler and the third student-built home in the new Stonebrook Crossing subdivision by Werner Homes.

A special thank you to the following businesses and organizations for donating supplies for students:

• Oostburg Lumber donated aprons, pencils, shirts, and sweatshirts.
• Drexel Building Supply donated hard hats, safety vests, and safety glasses.
• Carpenters Union Local 731 donated hammers.

Learn more about the House Construction Program on our website.