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Sidney High School students are continuing to make progress on a house renovation. The class project began last fall and provides an opportunity for real-world learning in planning, budgeting and construction.
Proceeds from the eventual sale of the home will support scholarships for graduating seniors and the purchase of a new property to makeover next year.
Kim Castner, an interior design teacher at the school, was at the construction site – located at 1833 Maple St. – on Wednesday with her class.
She said this is the first year the class has been offered.
"This is new this year because of this house," Castner explained, "and we already have a house for next year."
With generous community support, the ambitious project is nearing completion.
"We completely changed the floor plan," Castner said as contractors applied stucco to the exterior of the home. "We did a lot of talking about what would make the floor plan better."
On the main floor, that included removing walls, expanding the kitchen and rethinking the lighting.
"We did lots of structural changes and had to learn about if we opened that wall up, what we had to do to add the header," she said.
Each of her students was assigned a room to create a storyboard for with decorations and design elements.
"I think it will be fun to explain all the changes we made," she said. "And then the girls will market their areas for potential buyers."
The property has come a long way from its condition and appearance when it was donated to school after being purchased in foreclosure.
"The house was in desperate need of TLC," Castner said in the redesigned kitchen, to a chorus of concurring nods from her students.
Besides her interior design class, Beau McConnell's construction class at the high school has been working to transform the home.
"Beau has fabulous skills," Castner said.
Like most construction projects, the scope of the remodel has expanded as walls were opened up.
"We probably weren't going to do as large of a scope in the basement until we got into it and there were so many things that we decided had to be addressed," she said.
The extra work, though, has meant greater learning opportunities for the students.
Zoey Mines, a senior, said she now has a better idea of what to think about when looking for a house.
"Is it clean? Is everything in the right spot?" she said. "The do's and don'ts."
Creating and following a budget has also been a large part of the project.
The deadline to complete the remodel and sell the property is just three months away.
"It needs to be sold by May, so we have an eminent looming goal," Castner said. "We have to sell it this year so some of these kids can realize the scholarships."
Throughout the renovation, Sidney Chief Building Official Brad Rowan has overseen the construction.
"Brad has hooked us up with every right person that can help us, and he's here all the time." Castner added. "If people seem hesitant about it being a student-done project, it's completely led by the right person. And we're watched every step of the way. I would not have any hesitation in the world to buy this myself."
Rowan explained, while students have been working at the house five days a week, certain tasks are required to be completed by licensed contractors – like electricians and plumbers.
More than a dozen companies and individuals have supported the project by contributing labor and supplies.
"So many people in the community are involved and have helped out," he said.
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