(May 9, 2008)

TAFT--Some Taft High School students are learning about how to build homes in a class and their getting hands on experience as they have built a house in the small town.

A dozen students took the Construction Trade class at Taft High School. For the last year, they have spent up to four hours a day working on the project.

Today, The students are building a fence on this three-bedroom home they built for a class in Taft. Other than the plumbing and electrical work, the students built this house from the ground up over the last nine months. Everything from the brick to the roof to the sheetrock and the tile work.

"Putting up brick a lot of hard work also," said Isaac Hinojosa, who was one of the students at Taft High School. "Cement. It's getting dirty and not being afraid."

The teacher said a dozen students spent two class periods a day working on this home. They went on field trips, learning how to build a home from construction professionals.

"The students get to do it themselves," Merle Bernhardt, who was the teacher for the Constructions Trade class. "They learn about it from asking the people. We look at the book when we need to and we got some videos and stuff, but most of ours is hands on. We just really build the house."

Bernhardt said the class gave the students a taste of the different jobs in construction.

"It can also be a process of elimination," said Bernhardt. "I like doing the trim work or I like laying bricks, but I don't care for hanging sheet rock.'

The students said they're proud of this 84 thousand dollar house they built.

"The feeling is overwhelming," said Alex Hiracheta, a student in the class. "It's a pretty good feeling just to build something for somebody."

Now the house is up for sale. If the district makes a profit, the extra money will go back to the schools in Taft.

--Manuel De La Rosa, Area 3 News, mdelarosa@kiiitv.com