Tallassee High School senior John Robert Baxley has a backup plan if he doesn’t come to a decision about college for a year or two.
Baxley is now certified to operate a mini-excavator to dig ditches and install pipes.
“It just seems like something fun to do and having a certification and credential can help me on a resume,” Baxley said. “If I go into engineering, it's something I can use on the job site.”
PHOTOS: THS students learn to operate excavator
THS partnered with Central Alabama Community College, which provided three mini-excavators to the 13 students and instructor Brady Atkins, who is a THS Class of 2017 alumni.
“I’m not the smartest person there is,” Atkins said. “I went to work out of school and started on the end of a shovel.”
Atkins brought his real-world experience to the class last week. He understands that just because the students have the certification doesn’t mean they will get jobs immediately as an equipment operator. The certification shows the students understand the basics of the machine, its operation and how to be safe around it.
“The movements of the sticks and pedals is the same on these smaller machines as the larger ones,” Atkins said. “This gives the students a chance to learn how to operate the machine.”
Atkins' real-world project was installing a drainage pipe behind the school. Students would dig down and create a trench large enough for the long one-foot diameter pipe.
But they didn’t just dig. Atkins taught the students what their first job could be beyond operating the machinery. The students also use the machine to move the pipe and then to cover it.
“We came up with the idea of laying the pipe and shooting grade,” Atkins said. “Using a grade pole is a job that is on almost every jobsite. It allows the pipe to be installed to allow proper slope for drainage.”
The pipe project means the students work in teams of three. One operates the excavator, another the grade-pole and the last watches for safety and to catch any mistakes.
Students also learn hand signals to communicate through the noise of the machinery.
Baxley was in the skid steer certification class a couple months ago and said there are differences between the pieces of equipment.
“The excavator is more complicated,” Baxley said. “Both move dirt. The excavator has more controls but it lets you dig into the ground.”
The mini-excavator certification is something agribusiness teacher Dr. Daniel Free is proud to be able to offer students, especially with Atkins teaching it.
“He is a former student of mine,” Free said.
The program doesn’t cost the students or THS any money.
“CACC is taking care of all that,” Free said. “It is great for the students because this is something they can use in many different areas. It looks good on a resume when they go to apply for construction or landscaping jobs.”
Free said there is a need for younger people to learn to operate equipment such as the excavator.
“For a long time everyone has preached about going to four year schools,” Free said. “When looking at some of the trades, there are few younger people because they have gone to school. That’s great but there is also good money to be made in the trades.”
Free and CACC are working to bring another certification on large equipment to Tallassee students in early spring — bulldozer.
