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Batzer Inc. & Local Businesses Partner with
Oregon Building Congress to
Launch Construction Academy for Students
 MEDFORD, Oregon-On June 16, 2003, The Oregon Building Congress (OBC) begins its Construction Academy program for Southern Oregon middle school and high school students. As part of the program, a "Teach the Teachers" portion will also begin on this date. Teachers and other instructors will be learning how to turn lesson learning into hands-on experience in the construction industry. They will be instructed on math used in the construction industry and its applications. In addition, the OBC in cooperation with Southern Oregon University will implement a one-week Kids College Program for 12 -14 year olds that will focus on construction mathematics, careers and building techniques.
This effort is part of a larger program involving the partnership of more than 16 local agencies, educational institutions and businesses, including Batzer Inc. After six months in the planning process, Batzer Inc. in cooperation with OBC launched its Construction Academy program for southern Oregon high school seniors and juniors. Starting June 6, 2003, six local students from Ashland, South Medford, Butte Falls, and Crater High schools formed the first in-training work team and are partnering with the Bureau of Land Management to work and learn. As part of the program, these students will be trained and supervised by Doug Gardner, Construction Instructor for Crater High School. They will also receive paychecks for both their labor and their education.
According to Batzer Inc. President Russ Batzer, the OBC Construction Academy curriculum is modeled after an award-winning Construction Academy pilot program started by OBC and its partners in the Portland area a few years ago. The goal is to develop support for the industry and provide methods of training that are directly transferable to the workforce following high school graduation.
For Russ Batzer, implementing the Construction Academy program is a next best step in furthering his personal and corporate commitment to change general attitudes about the construction industry. "I want people to understand that
construction is a profession, not just a job to put food on the table," he says. "Construction is often perceived as an interim position - something you do before you start your real career. But good construction requires technical skills, creativity and endurance. It is truly a profession to be proud of."
OBC is a nonprofit organization that unites contractors, trade unions, government and schools to educate and recruit high-quality workers for the construction industry. For Batzer Inc. partnership with OBC for the newly developed program is complemented by support and participation of Medford School District 549C, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Home Builders Association, Southern Oregon University, Rogue Community College, Community Business Education Center, Cubit Construction, Gary Shaw Construction, Ken Brown Construction, LTM Inc., RA Murphy, S & B James, Buntin Construction, Tom Malot Construction, and several other high schools. Among other groups and agencies, it also involves Southern Oregon ESD, responsible for providing a $40,000 grant to get the program off the ground.
"It's truly a collaborative effort," says Phil Long, Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Medford School District 549C. Long's specific role is to promote the teacher training program that will result in the application of mathematics to the world of work, including construction.
"We have a lot of good reasons to get this program started," Russ Batzer explains. "We want to make sure those students with the ability and passion for construction can get access to the training and mentoring they deserve. They need to be assured that their educational goals can include construction."
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