One Class At a Time: Teaching craftsmanship and character in La Pine

LA PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- KTVZ News and Mid Oregon Credit Union awarded a $2,000 grant to the manufacturing and forestry program at La Pine High School this month. The award is part of our "One Class at a Time" initiative, which recognizes educators who improve the Central Oregon community.

The funding comes at a critical time for the program, which recently lost its federal funding. A $1,000 gift from Mid Oregon Credit Union was matched by the Bend-La Pine Education Foundation to help sustain the classes led by teacher Cameron Salvitelli.

Students in the program are currently focused on practical woodworking projects. During a recent class, students worked on constructing footstools while applying various wood joints they have been studying in the curriculum.

The $2,000 total will be used to address the physical needs of the shop. With approximately 80 students using the shop equipment every day, the school plans to put the funds toward equipment repairs, routine maintenance and the replacement of older machinery.

Mr. Salvitelli, a teacher at La Pine High School, manages the manufacturing and forestry classes. He emphasized that the program is designed to prepare students for their future roles in the community.

"We just really focus on honing their skills while building their character and helping them develop in ways where they are accountable to their actions, the respectful to the folks they're working for and they have real value, to kind of move into the workforce, move into the community, and and give back in that way," Salvitelli said.

It’s another example of how Central Oregon communities are working together to make a lasting impact, one class at a time.