March 28, 2024

SWCC carpentry students work on 11th house

Southwestern Community College (SWCC) students are contributing to development growth on the south side of Osceola.

Students in SWCC’s carpentry and building trades class are currently working on constructing a house at 245 Manor Drive.

“We’ve been pretty lucky,” said Charlie Mundy, the class’ instructor. “We had a hard time getting the roof on it ... but once we put the roof on it, then it turned cold.”

Mundy said students have been working since the beginning of the school year, and the roof was put on right before dismissal for winter break.

Inside work

With the frigid weather, students have been hanging drywall inside the house and will move on to hanging cabinets and flooring.

“So it’s going to start moving pretty quick, as least as far as the inside of the house,” Mundy said.

Once the weather improves, Mundy said he expects the class to work on concrete and outside work around the house.

There are 12 students working in the carpentry and building trades class. Students work on the house for three hours on school days.

The class offers dual enrollment, which means high-school students taking the class can acquire high school and college credit at the same time.

Mundy said he has mainly Clarke students, but does have some from Central Decatur and Winterset.

“We have a good support system,” Mundy said.

11th house

This is the 11th house the class has built, although it hasn’t been sold yet, because it’s still in a partnership with Clarke Community Development Corporation.

The finish date for construction is planned in May.

“We try to get them done by the time school’s out,” Mundy said.