From Classroom to Controls: WPHS Students Prepare for Future Careers
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured front row, from left, are Principal Meredith Dailer, students Liam Wetzel and Cooper Bush, and counselor Betsy Jones. In the back row are d are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, teacher Mike Schehl and Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured is student Cooper Bush.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, and student Liam Wetzel.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured from left are student Cooper Bush, teacher Mike Schehl, and student Liam Wetzel.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured front row, from left, are Principal Meredith Dailer, students Liam Wetzel and Cooper Bush, and counselor Betsy Jones. In the back row are d are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, teacher Mike Schehl and Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured front row, from left, are Principal Meredith Dailer, students Liam Wetzel and Cooper Bush, and counselor Betsy Jones. In the back row are d are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, teacher Mike Schehl and Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured is student Cooper Bush.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, and student Liam Wetzel.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured from left are student Cooper Bush, teacher Mike Schehl, and student Liam Wetzel.
Photo by Joselyn King Benchtop training devices from BAS Labs built to provide instruction on “real-world commercial controls device components” have arrived at Wheeling Park High School. Pictured front row, from left, are Principal Meredith Dailer, students Liam Wetzel and Cooper Bush, and counselor Betsy Jones. In the back row are d are Assistant Principal Jack Doyle, also career technology director at the school, teacher Mike Schehl and Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones.
Trending
WHEELING -- Eight device boxes destined to teach students the basics of building automation systems have arrived at Wheeling Park High School, and they could be the beginning of some lucrative careers for students who take the classes.
The benchtop training devices from BAS Labs are built to provide instruction on "real-world commercial controls device components," according to literature provided by the company.
BAS jobs are in high demand at this time, and after obtaining an initial two-year BAS certification, students will be qualified to take jobs just after high school graduation that start at $70,000 annually.
The BAS certification classes at WPHS will be the first of their kind in West Virginia.
The devices look like black briefcases that include a number of switches and controls inside.
"I saw the idea and started looking into the job opportunities, how it was starting to grow and how West Virginia did not have it," Jones said. "The really nice thing is, once I talked with (WPHS Career Technology Director Jack Doyle) he took the bull by the horns and got this off the ground. I'm really happy for all the work that they did."
Teachers and principals next had to do some information sharing with students to explain what the program was all about, he continued.
The eight benchtop training devices were purchased by Ohio County Schools at a cost of about $150,000. That included the cost of training teacher Mike Schehl, who will begin classes in Atlanta with BAS Labs next week on how to instruct students on the devices.
Schehl said he expects to be the only one in the class and that he will receive one-on-one training.
Two students can use each of the eight units at one time, thus each class may consist of up to 16 students.
Jones said the class is filled for the upcoming fall semester, and if it grows in popularity, additional units will be purchased to accommodate more students.
Students in the building automation program will take two years of classes to achieve their BAS certification, with a focus on heating, ventilation and air conditioning control. They will also receive microcredentials along the way in such areas as building safety, security systems and energy savings.
The certification makes them eligible after graduation for a $70,000-a-year position, and there are about 200 positions open in the region.
In addition, Ohio County Schools is looking to partner with West Virginia Northern Community College to get students involved in obtaining the next two levels of certification after receiving their initial BAS credentials.
This could help them earn at least $100,000 annually, according to Jones.
"The investment is very reasonable for what the kids can get out of this when they get out of here," Jones explained. "I think it has a lot of potential.
"It's not just HVAC stuff. It integrates with safety for buildings and campuses and office buildings and industrial settings, and energy savings."
WPHS junior Liam Wetzel seems anxious to begin the BAS program.
"I've heard a lot of cool things about it," he said. "I've heard there's a lot of job opportunities, and that we're the only school who really does it. I want to get into it."