MONROE — The 2025-26 school year marks the third time Monroe High School and Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) have collaborated to ready a home for new residents.
As part of the MHS LAUNCH program, students in 2023-24 renovated a home near the SSM Monroe Clinic and Hospital location. Last year, students picked it up a notch, building a home from scratch. For both homes, students worked with area contractors and specialists to learn about some of the trades needed that go into building or renovating a home or building.
GCDC Executive Director Olivia Otte said the goal of the program each school year is to raise the bar from the previous rendition.
“Not just in craftsmanship, but also in design awareness. We want students building at a high level while also understanding why certain features matter in today’s housing market,” she said.
This year, two new wrinkles entered the mix: first, students from Brodhead High School joined the team. Secondly, the home was sold well prior to completion. The sale not only brings in funds to continue the program, but it also allowed students to work alongside the buyers, architects and contractors to personalize the home.
“We are incredibly grateful for our partnership with the realtor community, especially Rebecca Maddrell with Exit Realty, for helping make that happen,” Otte said. “Being able to pre-sell the home is a big step forward for the program and truly brings it to the next level. Having a committed buyer during construction adds a new layer of responsibility and realism. It naturally raises expectations in a healthy way and makes the experience even more meaningful for the students.”
Otte said that with the buyer engaged throughout the build, students gain a much clearer understanding of the timeline and coordination that comes with working directly with a customer.
“They are learning how change orders happen, how adjustments are managed, and what it takes to communicate clearly when plans shift. Just as importantly, they are learning how to listen and how to understand a client’s preferences, priorities, and concerns,” Otte said. “This is real-world training that simply cannot be duplicated in a classroom. Students are seeing firsthand how decisions impact cost, design, scheduling, and budgeting. They are walking away with a fuller understanding of construction as both a skilled trade and a professional service, and that broader perspective is invaluable.”
Some of that personalization means following trends that reflect the current real estate market. There’s an emphasis on overall energy efficiency, from insulation and mechanical systems to thoughtful window placements and materials.
“Buyers are paying closer attention to long-term operating costs, and that’s something our students are learning to consider as part of the build” Otte said.
The home is more of an open-concept design, which has continued to be popular over the past few decades. The kitchen, dining and living spaces are all connected and “feel functional and inviting,” Otte said. “At the same time, there’s been a real focus on smart storage solutions and clean, modern finishes. We want the home to offer both functionality and flexibility for the buyer, and we want students thinking through how their decisions today will impact the future homeowner.”
Program maturing
The evolution of the project has continued to grow and mature each year, Otte said.
“The first year was really about proving the concept. The second year elevated the program by moving from a renovation project to building a new home from the ground up. That was definitely a significant step forward,” she said.
Also new this year for the project are instructors Jeremy Meier and Kevin Carpenter, who have real-world experience in the field. Otte said they immediately made an impact supporting the students and guiding the build.
On the school district side, there has also been growth. They are continuing to refine the classroom component so students take certain foundational courses ahead of time and come into this experience better prepared. That preparation makes a difference in both quality and efficiency on the job site.
The new school, currently nearing the end of construction, will have ample space and machinery to get students acquainted with the skills that will be needed to continue on in the field. Otte said the advantages compared to the current setup are clear.
“The new high school will be a real asset to projects like this. It’s going to allow students to gain a much broader range of hands-on learning experiences before they ever step onto the build site” she said. “When students are already comfortable working with tools, reading plans, understanding measurements, and practicing core skills in a modern shop environment, they arrive on site better prepared and more confident. That preparation should naturally elevate the quality of the builds.
“More importantly, it strengthens the overall student experience. If they’re used to learning by doing , they step into the project ready to contribute at a higher level. That kind of continuity between classroom and job site is exactly what makes workforce programs like this successful.”
Despite the constraints of the current high school building, in some ways, elements of the process has gotten easier, she said.
“We go into each year with a few more questions answered than the year before. That said, there is still a tremendous amount of work that goes into coordinating students, contractors, timelines, materials, and expectations” Otte added. “The focus has shifted in a healthy way. It’s no longer just about whether we can finish the house. Now the conversation is about how we build the best product possible and how we create the strongest learning opportunity possible for students.”
This year’s home, located next to last year’s rendition and just a block south of the Monroe Middle School, is ahead of schedule, which Otte said is “always preferable” compared to “trying to play catch-up.”
“That’s a credit to the students’ work ethic and the steady leadership Jeremy and Kevin are providing on the project,” she said.
She emphasized, however, the goal is not to finish early: it’s to build it “right”.
“Our priority is to make sure the home is solid, well-built, and something the buyer can be proud of for years to come. If we have extra time, we’ll use it wisely, whether that means slowing down to focus on details, reinforcing skills, or giving students additional hands-on experience in specific trades” Otte said.
She added that there are already conversations with Green County Habitat for Humanity abut the possibility of students helping support one of their builds, should the current Monroe project be completed ahead of schedule.
“That kind of partnership would allow students to continue developing their skills while also serving another family in the community. It keeps the learning going and reinforces the service-minded spirit behind the program,” Otte said.
What’s on tap for 2026-27?
Looking ahead, Otte said the focus on continuing to “build on that pipeline” of success from the first three home projects.
“We want to work even more intentionally with our business community to ensure there are meaningful job openings and advancement opportunities available for the growing number of students who are interested in pursuing careers in the trades,” she said. That means the partners are already in planning mode for next school year. “That part (planning) never really stops,” Otte said.
Next school year’s goal is to include as many school districts as possible. Otte said an invitation has gone out to all Green County schools. “Districts are currently working through their class scheduling for next year, so we expect to know more in March about which additional schools and students will be participating. We want this to be a county-wide opportunity, and we truly appreciate the partnerships we have with each of the school districts,” she said. She added that GCDC has partnered with the City of Monroe to find locations for homes. Staying in the same neighborhood, the next project will be across the street on the southeast corner of 15th Street and 16th Avenue. GCDC owns the parcel, which had been used as an ice rink decades ago. Otte said GCDC and the City are working together to determine “what the best housing structure” would be for that location. “We are exploring the possibility of more densified housing concepts on that site, but those conversations are still underway and require thoughtful planning and partnership before any final decisions are made” she said. “Our hope is to have the layout and overall direction for next year’s project determined by March as well, so students, instructors, and partners can begin preparing with clarity and purpose.”
Some graduates continue after MHS
During the first two years of the MHS/GCDC partnership, 36 high school students participated in the program. Of that, 18 have either gone directly into the trades in some capacity or have continued their education in a construction-related field, which includes attending UW-Platteville to pursue degrees such as construction management.
“That’s a statistic we’re especially proud of. To see roughly half of those early participants choosing a pathway connected to the trades tells us this program is doing what it was intended to do,” Otte said. “We’ve been fortunate to partner closely with local skilled trades professionals and construction businesses across Green County. They’ve been outstanding to work with and have helped create strong job opportunities and supportive environments for these students after graduation.”
