WHAT ARE OTHER SCHOOLS DOING?
SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS
1. The most creative way to do this is being done in northern Idaho. They created a 501(c)(3) "Construction Foundation". All expenses and profits flow through this organization so that the builders who donate materials can write it off on their taxes. In this case, the school district helped put together the very first purchase of land and starting materials. After that, the Foundation paid back the school district when the house sold and then divorced themselves completely from the district (financially).
2. Boise school district funds the entire construction program. They have a strong enough administrator that there is no danger of the district taking the funds and using them in some other area (plus they have financial operating procedures that would have to be violated to do that). The district purchases the lots (usually 4 - 5 close together in a new subdivision). As each house sells, the line item in the school district budget gets credited with the revenue. When they are down to only 1 or 2 lots left, there is enough profit built up in the line item to go out and purchase the next set of lots.
3. Meridian works through Habitat for Humanity. Habitat arranges the lots, so Meridian doesn't have to worry about that part of it. Meridian's materials budget is viewed by Habitat as one of its sources for materials, but there are other donors. Habitat arranges all materials, which takes a load off of the construction teacher. The construction teacher has to share responsibility for the management of the project with the Habitat construction foreman, but that hasn't been a problem so far in Meridian.
4. The Nampa construction program is also working with Habitat in a manner similar to Meridian.
5. The Carey High School construction program is similar in size to North Fremont (small). I have never talked to the Carey construction teacher (William Carlson) about how he builds houses, but he does. That might be worth checking into.