Construction & Landscaping
As the plans for the commons were nearing completion, the central question facing the Commons Committee was: How are we going to get this done? The proposed surveying, demolition, construction, and landscaping were enormous tasks. Just when it appeared that the project might become stalled in the planning phase, one of the construction teachers (who is also a carpenter and licensed contractor) offered to lead a Commons Construction class. The Commons Construction class is a hands-on learning experience that involves students in all aspects of the construction process. When help is required from outside contractors, the construction teacher schedules their time on site during the class meeting time. The first year the Commons Construction class was offered it met once a week for two hours. Since then the meeting time has been extended to two two-hour blocks.

Students in the construction class are responsible for building a wooden stage (completed in Spring 2000), preparing and pouring a concrete walkway (completed Fall 2000), and building wooden planters and benches (to be completed in the Spring of 2001). The construction students are expected to carry out these and other activities by working as productive team members, practicing diligence and accuracy, and demonstrating workplace safety behaviors. Periodically, the members of the community are invited to volunteer their time to help students complete large construction tasks, such as laying the pipes for the drainage system.

Horticulture students at Mendocino High School are responsible for maintaining the school grounds. For the Commons Project they will propagate and maintain the grass and plants in the commons area. Their work will begin in the spring of 2001 and continue indefinitely as a class responsibility.

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