When is it time to say NO more for now….
Anyone who is familiar with the high school more than likely has heard about the building trades program they have.
There is growing concern this program is not , has not carried it self in a long time.
The one home they sold at a loss. The other home is yet to sell and they are building a third home that is not done yet.
First of all this is tax payer money they are using, and should never be selling a beautiful , brand new home at a loss.
Should they have been allowed to start a new house this fall, when the one from last year has not sold?
NOW I will say I think the idea of this program is excellent. But other things have to be taken into consideration.
Mainly the economy. The housing market for brand new homes in Evansville is AWFUL!!!!!! Just plain AWFUL.
The town can not support the number of un sold homes as it is , much less building new ones.
It has been suggested that instead of building new homes, work with Habitat for Humanity.
Ask the Aware Agency or Churches who are some elderly who need help with repairs to their homes.
They could get the same experience from working with Habitat for Humanity as they are now building a house on the tax payer dime , and does not sell for months or years.
I think we need to look at halting any new building until the housing market starts to rebound.
At this point the only one who is benefiting is the person they bought the land from. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
Maybe also not building where it is known to flood might help sell the homes quicker if people were not afraid of pools in their basements.
I know the trades program has worked on taking extra precautions so there hopefully they are not flooding. But should we really have to do that?
Why not buy land to build on , where flooding is not a question.
People have heard and watched for them selves the flooding in the area.
Lets keep these kids involved in a building trades program, but there are other ways to do it, without taxing the tax payers for loses, and homes that are not selling.
It is tax payer money.. a profit is a must. Selling one before another is build is a must.
Chasinthenews's Blog 
February 1, 2011 at 8:22 pm
While I agree with you that we need to look at this program very closely, I don’t necessarily believe that it needs to be profitable. It is still a class, where we are funding this class, like many others, it has costs. Think of an IT class, we are continuously buying new computer soft/hardware to keep the class relevant. We are not making a profit on that or any other class. BUT we should be looking into other aspects of the course. We should be looking into advertising building sheds / home improvements for cost of materials. OR Advertising that the class is willing to work with a contractor or someone that is looking to build their own home and using THEIR money to build the home, the class will provide the labor free or at a very low rate (of course they will have to sign a waiver to sue for quality of work/ or whatever else the city attorney will come up with). It’s hard for me to say it “MUST” profit when we do not place the same requirement on English or math.
February 1, 2011 at 8:43 pm
I have to make it clear the idea to work with Habitat for Humanity was not mine, but a very good idea from the person who suggested it. As was the suggestion to work on homes of the elderly. That was the same person’s thoughts and idea on the program.
This is a very good suggestion that I think the district needs to think about.
February 2, 2011 at 3:46 am
It’s my recollection that the School District actually profited $1 on the sale of the first house – so not technically a loss; however, I am not sure the sale of the house(s) includes the labor of the class teacher and all those students who work on it. That would be interesting to know.
Habitat for Humanity is a wonderful idea!
I think it’s so funny someone would suggest you keep your post on the down low! That’s the problem with the School District. I would bet it was a former Board Member or Staff Member.
February 2, 2011 at 10:52 am
I like the point that this is a class, and we really should not be looking at things in terms of profit.
I had not really given much thought to it being a class. However I think most people when they think brand new house, its assumed someone is going to make a profit.
With the ‘free’ hours of labor it would seem like they would have some sort of profit.
They build beautiful homes, I like the program. But with taxes the way they are every thing needs to be looked at.
February 2, 2011 at 10:53 am
Actually it was not a board member former or current or staff member . Just someone who knows me. It was funny even they laughed when they said it.
Like they knew that was not going to happen.
February 3, 2011 at 1:10 am
I would like to see some public work projects. How about a shelter and bathrooms at the West side Park? I am sure there are all kinds of projects around the city these kids can do. The issue I see with Habitat for Humanity in Evansville is the lack of jobs in the area. These projects work better in larger cities. Besides the last thing Evansville needs is more residential. The schools cannot handle it.