Bartow High's Construction Academy inspires replication in 4 more Polk schools

BARTOW — At first, Melanie Bohde was only mildly interested in hammers, power saws and building design, elements of Bartow High School's Construction Academy.

That was her freshman year, and her interest has progressed since then. This fall she'll enter Santa Fe College in Gainesville to pursue an associate's degree in building construction. Her plan is to continue studies at the University of Florida's M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management.

One day in the near future, armed with a bachelor's degree in management and her general contractor's license, Bohde envisions making her mark in a field dominated by men.

“I feel like I want to do commercial construction,” she said.

Fueled by a surge in home construction, interest in the Bartow academy has blossomed, so much so that the Polk County School District is expanding the program with four new construction academies set to open this fall.

With help from the Polk County Builder's Association (PCBA), the academies will be located at Fort Meade, Lake Region, Ridge Community and Tenoroc high schools.

The academy at Bartow High, held as a model and whose graduates earn industry certifications that boost employment opportunities, also is getting a lift with a new building scheduled to open sometime in the next school year.

Part of a $17.5 million capital project at Bartow High, the new academy will be much larger and include additions such as a cabinet-making lab. Lead teacher Jimmy Giles anticipates students cranking out a series of tiny houses and architectural millwork such as paneling and molding.

Giles and some of his students provided an overview of the potential of their program Wednesday to a group of people representing local builders and construction trades. The tour, organized by the PCBA, was designed in part to recruit help from the business community in getting the new academies up and running.

Needs include volunteer mentors, supplies and potential employers.

“What you see here is a success story of what (construction) academies can look like,” said PCBA President David Adams, addressing the small group assembled in the academy's workshop, a sawdust-laden space punctuated with the whine of power saws. “It's encouraging that we can come together … to help our students.”

There are 78 high school academies and 41 pre-academies at the middle school level in Polk, specializing in such fields as aerospace technology, legal studies, architecture and robotics.

At Bartow’s construction academy, students punch a clock at the start of class and are expected to be on time five days a week.

“I don't put up with tardies,” Giles said, inspiring an "attaboy" from several of his tour guests.

Giles' program is a far cry from the days when “shop” class meant hammering together a wooden magazine rack or step stool. Students at Bartow High's advanced levels are building intricate lecterns, installing windows and constructing concrete curbs.

Such skills offer a critical pathway to careers that are in high demand, many paying much more than minimum wage for high school graduates, said Brett Butler, director of discipline for the Polk School District, who attended Wednesday's tour.

“Yes, college is where we'd like them to go,” he said, “but not every kid is cut out for college.”

Even college-bound students can gain skills that will come in handy when working their way through college or seeking summer jobs, Butler said.

Bohde praised the academy, and Giles, for opening her eyes to the potential of a career in construction management.

“They push us to take other courses within the academy program such as engineering and computer design,” she said.

Eric Pera can be reached at eric.pera@theledger.com or 863-802-7528.