Frank Emory recognizes the American Dream.
He tells his carpentry students at South Lenoir High School that everyone will have their own house one day.
So they built one.
High school students in Lenoir County participated in an annual construction project, taking the year to assemble a residential home from scratch.
The district Board of Education approved the resolution putting two structures — one from South Lenoir and the other from Kinston High School — on the housing market Monday.
Emory said the homes have been sold for up to $68,000. Bidding begins at the schools’ respective construction sites on June 29, and the houses could sell within an hour.
“(The buyer) gets a quality house that meets the code or above,” Emory, South Lenoir construction teacher, said. “It’s a good deal for them because the labor is pretty much free. The labor aspect of it is a teaching lab for us, so we win by allowing the students to have something that they can actually build … hands-on.”
There were about 120 students this year who worked on the house, constructed near the school’s football field. Carpentry I, II and III students began construction in September after going through the safety principles of the job site.
They began building on a group of cinder blocks, which will soon be completely visible again when the buyer moves the house.
“Whoever buys the house wins because of the quality,” said Emory, who is also the chairman of the Jones County Board of Commissioners and former North Carolina Home Builders Association president.
The house is 17,040 square feet with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The residential space will be equipped with standard housing features, as the buyer will be responsible for connecting it to electrical and water fixtures.
Emory said some houses have been moved out along the coast, but the buyers have generally stayed in the area.
Additionally, students have worked hands-on with contractors all year during the project.
“Everybody in the construction trades … is always looking for people to hire,” Emory said. “We get to partner with the community and the construction building in our area.”
The incomplete house at Kinston High will be sold as-is, as the carpentry instructor took another job in April.
A voicemail was left for the school’s assistant principal, Audrey Harold, but the call was not returned before press time.
Kelly Jarman, Lenoir County’s student services director, said there were four elements missing from the Kinston High house.
She said the materials for the students were ordered for the ground-up project.
“It’s hands-on work-related experience,” Jarman said. “It gives them transferrable skills to the workplace.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.