Habitat for Humanity pitches school partnership to Little Falls board to build homes, give students CTE experience

At the Jan. 6 meeting of the Little Falls Community Schools Board of Education, representatives of the Morrison County Habitat for Humanity described a potential partnership with the district that would combine Habitat build projects with hands-on student experience in construction trades.

The presentation was given by Kathy Lang, executive director of the Morrison County Habitat for Humanity, and board member Bill Osberg. Eric Bublak, the district’s industrial-technology teacher, and district staff discussed how student participation could be organized. Board members indicated interest but took no formal action.

Why it matters: the proposal would create local career-technical education (CTE) opportunities for students — including the chance to work alongside volunteer subcontractors and Habitat’s construction managers — while also increasing the community’s affordable housing stock. The partnership could create a nearby build site adjacent to the high school, reduce transportation barriers for student participation, and unlock state and nonprofit funding targeted to school-affiliate projects.

What Habitat presented - Habitat for Humanity background: Morrison County Habitat has built about 25 homes since its first house in 1999 (COVID interrupted some activity).…