The loud sounds of machinery and power tools fill room 803 as students work on their construction projects. Whether it’s storage sheds for ASB, a second story on the baseball shed behind home plate, or lockers for the gym, many of the projects done by the construction class can be seen around AGHS.
Brad Lachemann has taught the construction class, for over ten years with hopes to create more opportunities for students.
“I have a contractor’s license,” Lachemann said. “I noticed the workforce for construction in the area was shrinking, so I thought [the class] would be a good idea.”
There’s been a construction class on campus since AGHS opened, and Lachemann has taught it since 2009.
The class is run mainly through a “learn by doing” style, as well as students learning new skills by watching a demonstration done by Lachemann, and then trying it themselves.
“First, our teacher tells us what we’re going to do, usually it’s just a continuation of what we’ve been doing,” Samuel Leiva (‘26) said. “He tells us the steps, and we get to [work].”
Many students, such as Luis Santiago (‘25), joined the class to learn more about construction and learn new skills. Santiago participated in larger projects such as making benches for the baseball team. Students can also make their own projects in the classroom with leftover materials from other projects, and take them home once they’re done.
While the class is currently working on building miniature sheds, in the future, the program plans to expand into bigger class projects.
“We will be starting a new curriculum next year where we [will] completely build out a 260 square foot [accessory dwelling unit] with [a] working bathroom and kitchen,” Lachemann said.
Funding for larger projects often comes from the district budget or local businesses such as Burke and Pace Lumber. Being able to make larger projects not only allows for students to learn more about the construction process, but also lets students participate in the process. Whether it’s a large project, like a shed, or a smaller project such as a table, students in this class learn valuable construction skills.
