Orcas School District Partners for Construction Trades Education

— from Cathy Ferran, for OISD —

Orcas Island School District and teacher Brett McFarland are proud of our recent efforts to provide Adult Education in the construction trades. For this we partnered with the SJC Economic Development Council, Orcas Island Community Foundation, Kiwanis Club and private donors. Many thanks to our community for the passage of the 2012 School Bond, which allowed us to build a beautiful space for classes such as these! The initiative to deliver this program was developed in response to the growing need for skilled trades people in our community. Here is a recent success story and inspiration for those considering trying something new:

To the donors, patrons, staff and members of the EDC and Brett:

My heartfelt thanks to you all for hosting the free Beginning Construction Course at Orcas High School. Six months ago I was working part time in the service industry and suffering from postpartum depression. Although I loved my life on Orcas and worked hard to get here, my life lacked the meaning and direction I craved. I enrolled in the class on a whim hoping to gain skills I could use to fix up our own home. Today I moved and pieced together the chicken coop that was our class’s main project. My friends commented on how nice the birds nest rafters fit on the roofline and how strong and solid the building is. I am proud of that building and grateful to have it on my property. It represents so much more to me than a chicken palace, this building marks the start of my career in the trades and reminds me of the satisfaction and joy that comes from finding work you love. Before the class was over I landed a job as a junior carpenter working for Kruger Carpentry. I’m on track to become a carpenter and a darn good one at that. This class literally changed my life and I am so grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to greening up Orcas’s construction industry and hope to build more affordable housing here on the island. I believe that the greatest gift you can give someone is meaningful work and I’d like to thank you all for that gift.

Best,
Whitney Page
(Mom, wife, lifelong learner and now female carpenter on the rise!)

For more information about the program, go to: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/about-us/initiatives/