Jefferson-Lewis BOCES students wrapping up modular home projects

May 8—WATERTOWN — Many students in the region will soon be stowing away their pencils and notebooks for summer break, but a few of them will be stowing away their hammers and nails.

Students at Jefferson-Lewis BOCES will be doing the latter, after they put the final touches on two modular homes that they constructed from the ground up.

The homes, built by 11th and 12th graders at Bohlen Technical Center in Watertown and Sackett Technical Center in Glenfield, are "one of the most hands-on learning experiences for aspiring builders," the school said in a release.

BOCES Information Coordinator Nathan Lehman said that they are already planning for the next school year. According to Lehman, an important step in the process — one that he is working on now — is finding a buyer beforehand, because this will make the students' building experience more authentic.

"It helps us when we know that there is a buyer ready to go right when we are beginning the design," he said. "It is also better for the students, because they know somebody is specifying the way the home is going to look."

Lehman said that rather than simply building a home for the sake of building a home, having a customer involved in the process teaches the students how to cater to their preferences, from start to finish.

That customer is responsible for the cost of designing blueprints, project materials and transportation of the home off the BOCES campus.

In Watertown, students in the carpentry program are those most involved in the project. Guided by instructor Leo Paige, they learn the technical skills required for a career in construction. Paige was critiquing the drywalling technique of a dozen or so of those students on Wednesday afternoon.

Paige said he works with "a good group of kids," and he believes the modular home projects "gives them something real to do."

Electrical wiring and plumbing and HVAC students also get hands-on experience working on the homes.

Those interested in the 2024-25 modular homes can reach out to the Career & Technical Education offices at the respective technical centers to express interest or gather more information. The Bohlen Technical Center is available at 315-779-7200, and inquiries for the Sackett Technical Center can be made by calling 315-377-7300.