STOCKTON, Calif. — After a year of construction, students at Franklin High School are nearing the completion of an innovative project: building a tiny home. This initiative, part of the school's Career Technical Education (CTE) program, has not only provided practical skills but has also sparked a newfound passion among the participants.
Nerely López Carranza, a student enrolled in the Women in Construction course, expressed her enthusiasm for the project. "I just really love building – it's one of my favorite classes. I look forward to coming to school just to go into construction," she told KCRA. This sentiment is echoed by Alondra Guadalupe Romo Barajas, a second-year construction student, who described the experience as surreal and immensely educational.
The tiny home, measuring 160 square feet, is designed to accommodate one or two people and includes a living room, a Murphy bed, a kitchen, and a restroom. Beyond providing housing solutions, the project serves as a real-world application of the students' skills in construction, electrical work, and more. Romo Barajas noted, "Right now, we're actually building a shed and the training skills that I've learned for this house, I can use them over there, as well as electrical."
This project is a cornerstone of Stockton Unified School District’s commitment to expanding workforce development opportunities for students, particularly those not pursuing college after graduation. Nathan Haley, director of CTE & STEM at the school district, emphasized the relevance of such programs. "We've designed the pathways so that they're going to flow into something that's relevant in the local economy and into a program that either occurs at Delta College or one of the colleges in the area," Haley explained.
Supervised by Michael King, who has been teaching construction courses for eight years, the project also prepares students for certifications critical to their future careers. "For any of my students to move along in the pathway, it's required of them to at least complete their OSHA 10 in construction certification, and just about 95% of my students will have that complete as they move forward," King stated.
Upon completion, scheduled for mid-May, the tiny house is expected to be sold for between $55,000 to $75,000, with King already in contact with nonprofit organizations interested in purchasing it. This project not only provides students with invaluable skills but also contributes to the community, showcasing the impactful blend of education and practical application at Franklin High School.
