Duncan Polytechnical construction students get hands-on experience at new bar and restaurant

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The second Duncan Polytechnical High School students arrive at the job site, they get right to work.

The building and construction students have been spending about six hours a week in Downtown Fresno.

Students like Joseph Preciado have been helping prepare a new bar and restaurant called Moses McQueen’s.

“We’re working on pouring concrete,” Preciado said. “Also, we’re working on finishing grading over there.”

The juniors and seniors have been preparing in the classroom for the opportunity at real-world experience.

Preciado says they quickly realized the difference between school and the job site.

“We just learned to kind of have some like responsibility, and well, not really to horse around because it’s more serious,” Preciado said.

Their instructor, Ash Jones, coaches the students through the projects.

He says getting them away from school has helped show them the realities of the job.

“There’s some forgiveness in the classroom setting, whereas on the job site, the stakes are higher,” Jones said.

Students were given this opportunity thanks to industry partner NexGeneral Construction.

Owner Phillip Kliewer has invited the students to work at multiple sites and says the quality of work is great.

“They listen well to direction. They do things right the first time. They’re hard workers. They put their nose down,” he said.

The partnership also provides a pipeline to companies such as NexGeneral Construction.

Kliewer says his company has already hired two recent graduates.

As someone who never saw himself going into construction, Kliewer hopes this experience will help give these students direction.

“I’m really hoping that they’ll discover a passion for construction building and then also be able to have the pride of showing their friends and family something that they actually participate in,” Kliewer said.

Showing friends and family the work he did on site is exactly what Preciado plans to do once Moses McQueen’s officially opens.

“I’m definitely going to bring them here like once the whole construction is finished. I’m going to bring them, and I’ll show them around, tell them maybe a few of what I did,” Preciado said.

The students will continue working on-site a couple of days a week until the opening, which is currently scheduled for March.

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