A ceremonial cornerstone brick was laid Tuesday, marking the debut of 44th student-designed and built home, constructed through a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools and the student Construction Trades Foundation (CTF) program, which is now in its 50th year of operating.
The home is listed for $799,000 — a major milestone for the program, but it may be their last.
MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor recently proposed a list of more than 400 MCPS positions that may be eliminated under his proposed budget that is expected to be adopted June 4. Included in that list are the CTF’s supervisor, instructional specialists and fiscal assistant for a total of four full-time equivalent positions.
According to the list of FY 2027 Summary Potential Budget Reductions, elimination of those positions would save MCPS about $460,000. But it also would mean that the program probably couldn’t continue, according to several people gathered at the house on O’Fallon Street in Silver Spring.
The three-level, four-bedroom, 3.5 bath home with a two-car garage was designed and built by students, who proudly showed off their work to parents and friends Tuesday night.
During the past two years, 600 students from across the county attended CTF programs at Thomas Edison and Seneca Valley High Schools, spending a total of about 1,000 hours working on this house. Students specialized in such areas as architecture, carpentry, electricity, HVAC, masonry, construction design, management and plumbing.
Rowan Collins was involved in the carpentry program and enjoyed her time so much, she will be attending Frostburg State University in the fall, majoring in technical theater. That is an interest she gained while working with CTF and stage crew.
Her dream is to open a construction company “by women, for women.”
For this house, she did “a lot of little bits and pieces,” including flooring, drywall, cabinetry, doors and shelving. “I put in the towel racks,” she added.
Despite the proposed cuts, Taylor praised the program, students and teachers.
“This is such a huge deal,” he said. “Soon, someone is going to go inside, unload groceries … and they are going to send their kids to Montgomery County Public Schools.”
Steven Bodin, whose job as Foundations Office supervisor is on the chopping block, listed numerous former student participants who now have well-paying jobs and even run their own companies just a few years after graduation.
Jamaar Evans, who was part of the class of 2020, worked in the masonry program, which had “a major impact on my life.” Not only did he learn marketable skills, he also learned to get up early and work harder, he said.
Students in the CTF program are picked first for jobs because of the experience they gained, Evans said.
J.P. Mabuyo, an 11th grader, pointed to the fireplace he worked on. “Overall, it looks good,” he declared.
Mulbah Kollie, also an 11th grader, installed a door jamb and framing for the windows in a bedroom, among other things. The frame gave him trouble, but he kept at it until it was flush, he said.
If the program continues, Hector Morales, instructional specialist, said that CTF will use the proceeds from selling this house to begin the process of starting the 45th house.
Since the program began in 1976, homes have been built in the Silver Spring, Rockville and Bethesda areas.
