|
 |
 |
       |
 |
Building a stronger tomorrow...with help. |
 |
 |
|
  |
MAINE SCHOOL OF MASONRY IN THE NEWS Masonry School Opens to fill gap in AvonMorning Sentinel By Diane Johnson, Correspondent
Avon – After years of preparation and hard work, one local resident will realize his dream this September. Stephen Mitchell of Phillips will open the Maine School of Masonry with its first class of an expected 12 students on Sept. 7. Mitchell, founder and head instructor for the school, is a certified teacher and graduate of the Northern Maine Vocational Institute. After serving his apprenticeship Mitchell opened his own masonry contracting business. Although the business did well he realized there was a need to preserve the trade. "The country is losing 1,500 masons a year," Mitchell said, "and only 200 masons a year are replacing them." According to Mitchell, industry is filling the gap by producing user-friendly materials which further endangers the trade. The school is located in Avon, on the Rangely Road (Route 4) in the former Lauri Toy Factory. Mitchell has been working on the renovations in his spare time since May. In addition to a traditional classroom there is a large lab are next to a storage garage filled with various materials the students will be using. There is also a break room, library, office space, a reception area and a bunkroom. The bunkroom will be used as part of a three-phase plan for the school. The first phase will focus on drawing masons into the state, keeping the trade going, and working towards a full-day program running Monday through Friday. "There are 27 technical high schools in Maine," Mitchell said, "and 23 of them have carpentry programs." However, according to Mitchell, only two of those programs has a masonry segment. Mitchell has visited each school proposing a masonry program. He hoped those graduates will consider his day program, which will begin next fall, to further their education in the trade. The second phase will provide community education. Its program will run nights and Saturdays for adults who want the skills to maintain their own properties, such as brick or stone steps, chimneys, or walls. This phase will begin in September. In the third phase Mitchell will offer one week courses to church groups who are looking for building skills to be used in mission work abroad. Groups of eight or less may stay on the premises in the bunkhouse, which also has kitchen and bath facilities. The bunkhouse option will be used for the first time this February. Mitchell plans to hold a one-week workshop for area carpentry instructors. As a stepping stone in creating his own school, Mitchell has taught at several private and public schools and presently teaches masonry at local area schools. The school will offer the following certificate courses for the Fall semester:
These courses will run for two nights and Saturdays for three hour sessions over ten weeks. Each course will have three parts: classroom instruction; laboratory practice; and a community project. For more information contact: masonryschool@tds.net Students must be eighteen years of age and have basic reading, writing and math skills.
|
