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West Shore School News is a presented by West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press.
AMBER TOWNSHIP — Students in the West Shore Educational Service District Summit Tech Construction Trades program at put their classroom skills to work on a project designed to help improve security at area schools, churches and businesses.
Construction Trades students Rylee Storm and Kyle Stockman of Mason County Eastern, and Dillon Lawrence and Bryson Gronevelt of Mason County Central, made more than 100 simple devices designed to help secure doors during an emergency.
The project was completed in cooperation with instructors Aaron Tarsa and Tom Wincheski and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office’s Surviving Acts of Violence program.
The devices were made from retired fire hose donated by the Mason County Rural Fire Authority. The hose had been removed from service and was scheduled for disposal.
Students built a jig to hold the hose in place while it was cut into the appropriate lengths. The project gave them experience safely using tools, including a reciprocating saw, along with skills they have learned in the classroom.
Those skills included adding fractions and using speed squares, tape measures and drills.
The project also required some problem-solving. When the students’ first jig did not work as planned, they modified the design until they developed a system that worked.
In addition to construction skills, the project gave students experience working with a customer and building a product to specifications, skills they are likely to use in the construction trades.
Sgt. Adam Lamb of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office said several businesses, classrooms and churches have already put the devices into use.
Lamb, who is in command of the Mason County school resource officers program, thanked Tarsa, Wincheski and their students for their work.
“These simple devices can help secure a door and provide an added sense of security,” Lamb said.
Lamb also thanked the Mason County Rural Fire Authority for providing the retired fire hose.
The project was connected to the Sheriff’s Office Surviving Acts of Violence training, which provides businesses, churches and schools with information about preparing for and responding to violent incidents.
Businesses, churches or schools interested in Surviving Acts of Violence training may contact Sgt. Adam Lamb at alamb@masoncountymi.gov or 231-907-2297.
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