A renovation project at Lawton High School is opening doors for students in the home improvements class.
At the same time, the project is helping beautify and restore pride in the school.
Students in Stacy Hunt’s home improvements class have been working their way down the main hall removing doors, sanding them down, staining them and then rehanging them. Hunt said Principal Travis Pool came to him with the idea of refinishing the doors, most of which date back to when the building was built in the mid-1950s.
“It’s a good opportunity to give back to the school and build a sense of pride within the building,” Pool said. “An added benefit is that it benefits the school. I think the kids are enjoying it and the teachers are enjoying it.”
Hunt said that for most of his students, it is the first time they have used a sander or paintbrush.
“My vision is that they learn some real world applications. Wood staining probably is something everyone has done. It’s a good skill to know. I’m glad we are getting to do it,” Hunt said of the project.
Not only do students sand and paint doors, they also make minor repairs and learn how to fill in holes, and they learn about teamwork and sharing as they work in groups of two or three.
For Josiah Williams, 16, sophomore, using the tools is nothing new. His father owns some rental houses and he has helped him with fencing and other building projects. Williams said he took the class just to get better at it and to be a good helping hand.
“As long as you follow instructions, you will make it,” he said. “If they need help, they just need to come to me.”
Williams said he appreciates the opportunity to give back to his school.
“All the ones we have done, they look fabulous,” he said of the doors. “A lot of them (teachers) came to us and asked us to do their door. I think it is great. They give to us all the time. I think we should take a moment to give back to them.” Williams said he plans to pursue a career in construction or diesel mechanics.
Chase Wright, 16, sophomore, who describes his family as a group of do-it-yourselfers, also said this is not his first time to use tools. He has worked on doors and trimmed floors before. He said he took the class in order to learn the right way to do everything, and to learn to do more. He said so far he has learned the proper technique for staining wood.
He, too, said he appreciates the opportunity to give back to the school.
“It feels good,” he said. “I’m able to help out in some kind of way. It’s making the school look better day by day.”
Jean-Pierre Brown, LHS math teacher, has had one of his doors refinished. He said he thinks the project is good for the kids.
“The kids need a hands-on project,” Brown said. “They can point out a door to their friends and say, ‘I did that door.’ It establishes pride in students and a positive feeling they have done something for the school.”
Hunt said he hopes to do as many doors as possible, and is focusing on those along the main hallway near the office.