FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — The second Duncan Polytechnical High School students arrive at the job site, they get right to work.<\/p>\n
The building and construction students have been spending about six hours a week in Downtown Fresno.<\/p>\n
Students like Joseph Preciado have been helping prepare a new bar and restaurant called Moses McQueen’s.<\/p>\n
“We’re working on pouring concrete,” Preciado said. “Also, we’re working on finishing grading over there.”<\/p>\n
The juniors and seniors have been preparing in the classroom for the opportunity at real-world experience.<\/p>\n
Preciado says they quickly realized the difference between school and the job site.<\/p>\n
“We just learned to kind of have some like responsibility, and well, not really to horse around because it’s more serious,” Preciado said.<\/p>\n
Their instructor, Ash Jones, coaches the students through the projects.<\/p>\n
He says getting them away from school has helped show them the realities of the job.<\/p>\n
“There’s some forgiveness in the classroom setting, whereas on the job site, the stakes are higher,” Jones said.<\/p>\n
Students were given this opportunity thanks to industry partner NexGeneral Construction.<\/p>\n
Owner Phillip Kliewer has invited the students to work at multiple sites and says the quality of work is great.<\/p>\n
“They listen well to direction. They do things right the first time. They’re hard workers. They put their nose down,” he said.<\/p>\n
The partnership also provides a pipeline to companies such as NexGeneral Construction.<\/p>\n
Kliewer says his company has already hired two recent graduates.<\/p>\n
As someone who never saw himself going into construction, Kliewer hopes this experience will help give these students direction.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Showing friends and family the work he did on site is exactly what Preciado plans to do once Moses McQueen’s officially opens.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
The students will continue working on-site a couple of days a week until the opening, which is currently scheduled for March.<\/p>\n
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