Summer Work-Study Program Keeps De Soto High School Students Busy
Date Posted: July 9, 2024
Posted In: News,
From Leader Publications: It may be summer break, but 47 De Soto High students could be found in the school throughout June cleaning, painting, moving furniture, removing old flooring and installing the new flooring.
The students were taking part in a summer work study program that has grown every year since it began more than 10 years ago, Principal Jon Roop said.
“The first couple of years it was more or less outside doing mulching, landscaping,” he said. “Then we started bringing them inside to do some projects.”
The students – ranging from incoming freshmen to incoming seniors – didn’t earn course credit but they did earn $11.15 an hour.
“It’s been a good program for the kids,” said John Brown, head wrestling coach and a high school social studies teacher who leads the program. “They learn and they work. That’s the main thing. We do help maintenance out quite a bit.”
Students must apply and then be chosen to be part of the program. The students work 8-11:15 a.m. Monday through Friday in June.
Projects vary each year. One year, the students converted a classroom into an engineering lab, Roop said.