The Perry School District has a strong history of preparing students for skilled worker trades, and that may be expanded even further with a proposed new class starting next school year.

The building trades class would allow high school students to actually build houses in Perry. Industrial Technology Instructor Chad Morman presented the proposed class to the School Board, saying it was a program he helped advance during his time working for the Greene County School District. Morman said the class would teach students a wide variety of valuable skills, give them hands-on experience with construction, and also give them college credit through Des Moines Area Community College.

Additionally, Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks says the school wouldn’t have any out-of-pocket expenses for the program. In its pilot year, the funding for the house to be built would come from a variety of sources, like Perry Economic Development and DMACC. After that, Wicks says the program could become self-sustaining. “The key is, this next year that things get going well, we’re able to sell that spec home, and then use that money for investment into all the materials for the next house. Then if things go well, we’re looking at a number of houses being built throughout the year. So a lot of great collaboration, some synergy, and people are excited!”

Wicks said the school has a series of lots lined up for the housing projects, which are located along Otley Street between 10th and 12th streets. The School Board took no action on creating the class during their March meeting, but will bring it up for consideration in April.