Operation Reconstruct provides opportunity for school dropouts

Josh Baker was facing a brick wall. The unemployed, 20-year-old Lewes-born high school dropout had no work prospects. When he was 13, Baker moved to Key West, Fla. At 16, he quit school and moved back to the Cape Region.

But without a high school diploma, Baker said it was virtually impossible to find any job, let alone a career.

Then he found out about Operation Reconstruct.

A free program that welcomes Sussex County high school dropouts ages 17 to 21, Operation Reconstruct teaches construction skills while preparing teenagers and young adults to acquire their GEDs.

“Because the economy was so slow, I thought to apply for the program. One, I had time, and two, I wanted to get my GED – a lot of jobs require you to have that,” he said.

Baker completed the program Dec. 21, along with seven other trainees. Today, he said, he has already been contacted by an employer who is not only willing to hire Baker full time; the employer will also pay for Baker to get qualified to fix heating and air-conditioning units.

Florida-based Paxen Learning contacted the Delaware Department of Labor last year to determine the state’s interest. Operation Reconstruct also has programs in Mississippi, Kentucky, Hawaii and Louisiana, said Ken Zeszutko, a Paxen spokesman. Paxen is partnered with Home Builders Institute, the workforce development arm of the National Association of Homebuilders. In Delaware, a multi-team approach is coordinated through the Delaware Workforce Investment Board, First State Community Action Agency and the Milford Housing Association.

In Georgetown, trainees have completed construction work at the Georgetown Apartments and, in Milford, a Habitat for Humanity project.

Dan Ashman is the Georgetown site manage, who leads the 14-week training program. For five weeks, trainees learn employability skills, followed by four weeks of GED instruction. Finally, during the last five weeks, trainees learn construction skills.

“The construction industry recognizes the pre-apprenticeship certificate. It enables our applicants to get into other certified programs, he said.

For Baker, training has provided entry into an HVAC certification program.

“I try to prepare the students for the job market in construction. It’s a little more than that. The business perspective shows them how businesses operate. It also teaches them how people conduct themselves for interviews, what people are looking at in hiring people,” said Ashman.

Operation Reconstruct is in its second year of operation in Sussex County. Last year, three 14-week sessions were offered.

“They learn hands-on construction. They get a full measure of construction including some electrical, plumbing and siding work. They also built a small house, a model for First State Community Action Agency,” said Ashman.

At the end of January, Operation Reconstruct will begin with a new group of recruits.

“I’m really looking for motivated people who want to change their lives. We’ve had really great success stories out of this,” said Ashman.

“We welcome young ladies as well, as long as they have an interest in construction.”

“Both instructors are great and full of knowledge. Dan Ashman teaches employment skills, what to say, what not to say and how to dress. Consuelo McGowen, our GED instructor, was just great, too,” said Baker.

“I would like everybody to give it a chance,” Baker said. “I want to continue to go to school, go to college and proceed further.”

For more information about Operation Reconstruct, call Ashman at 302-344-2305, or Bill McCleaf at 542-0771.