Rutherford High School Construction Academy build mobile home

BAY COUNTY, FL ( WMBB ) – Students in the Rutherford High School Construction Academy are making progress on a couple of big projects.

They’ve had a setback with water damage in the tiny home their building in a school bus.

This may look like a new manufactured home that you’d find on any sales lot. But this mobile home was built by high school students from scratch.

Rutherford High School’s Construction Academy has been around for nearly 10 years.

Its purpose is to teach students skills that could translate into jobs as adults.

Emma Watkins is one of 160 students who were involved in building the mobile home.

“I now know how to, like, build my own things without having to ask for help. I know how to work with people who maybe do not work at the same pace as me or have the same work ethic as me. I’ve learned a lot doing this,” Rutherford High School senior Emma Watkins said.

Students saw the mobile home construction process from the ground up.

The project started in December of last year and finished at the beginning of this school year.

A Bay District School employee bought the home for $43,000. Money will go back into the program for future projects.

“The kids got to see the construction from the ground up. For them, nothing has changed. This is just how you build one. But when they get to work on their own homes, they’ll know exactly what goes into the end of that build,” Rutherford Highschool Construction teacher Jason Rogers said.

Students learn everything about construction from using hand tools, and power tools, to carpentry, welding, and electrical work.

The local business community realizes the value of this knowledge.

The St. Joe Foundation and the Bay Building Industries Association support the program, knowing Rutherford is training future employees in the construction industry.

The home was delivered Friday to the new owner’s property in Lynn Haven.

Students are continuing to work on the tiny home in a school bus. Once completed, the Chautauqua Charter Academy will use it to house visitors.

It should be completed in May.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.