CTE Students Help Renovate Jack's Place

Posted on June 8, 2015 | By Anne-Marie Sheehan at Times Union

The century old saltbox Victorian under renovation at 17 Rosa Road in Schenectady is anything but a typical construction project.

The house has become a gathering place for the local community where students, teachers and businesses are working together to convert the single-family dwelling into an eight-bedroom home to host families from out of town while their loved ones receive treatment at nearby medical centers including Ellis Hospital and Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital.

Known as Jack's Place, the project is being funded by the Jack Falvo III Foundation, a charity organization created to honor the life of Jack Falvo III who died in 2005 at the age of 21 in a jet ski accident. His parents, Kate and Jack Falvo Jr., hope the home will serve as a tribute to Jack's life while providing a sanctuary for families in need during a difficult and stressful time.

The project recently received a $25,000 grant from Lowe's that was secured by students from the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School to help pay for building materials to be used in the home's rehabilitation.

Over the past school year, CTE students in programs ranging from carpentry, building trades, electrical trades and HVAC/R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration), have donated their labor and expertise to help rehabilitate the house. In the process, students also acquired new skills as they received on-the-job mentoring from professionals in the field.

"The kids were the greatest bunch," said Site Supervisor Ron Roland in a recent interview. I'm really proud of all of them. They did what they were asked to do and got a good on-the-job experience. They were able to see what a real construction job is like."

To view the students in action at Jack's Place and to hear about what they have learned, watch the accompanying video and view the photo gallery.