Nov. 11, 2025
By Zahara Chowdhury
Editor-in-Chief
In LHS’ new Residential Construction Technology class, students are swapping their pencils for power tools. In this hands-on elective, they build structures and develop trade skills.
Industrial arts teacher Mr. Morgenroth said the district reached out to him in Fall 2024 to ask if he was interested in starting the Residential Construction program. The full-year elective, which is held in Room 102, the new classroom in the basement, is open to all students and fulfills all five 21st Century Life and Careers credits required for graduation. LHS is running four sections of the course, with 63 students registered.
“The purpose of the class is to [provide] hands-on experience in house construction and house-related projects,” Morgenroth said.
He graduated from Montclair State University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts/Technology Education. Morgenroth taught middle school, high school and college classes for 28 years in various New Jersey towns before retiring in 2024. He came out of retirement to work part-time in the mornings at LHS.
Morgenroth said he assesses his students on their participation, safety practices and quarterly projects, which include building walls and constructing a foundation for a mini house.
“Everything that we’re doing is project-based in the class,” Morgenroth said. “I give the basic theory, then demonstrate safe and proper techniques for applying the specific construction applications to real-life problems.”
Morgenroth said he hopes LHS will go on to offer an advanced construction course.
“A second-level type class [could focus] on community-based projects, like building a gazebo or something in the courtyard here that students can go to,” Morgenroth said. “[It would] help the community grow and help [students] get involved.”
Senior Lyz Herrera, who is in Morgenroth’s Period 4 class, said she enrolled in Residential Construction Technology because assisting her dad with his work in residential construction has led her to consider a job in this field.
“I enjoy helping him,” Herrera said. “If I end up not [pursuing music education], I would be happy doing this.”
Herrera said she enjoys Morgenroth’s supportive demeanor and participating in group projects.
“I give the basic theory, then demonstrate safe and proper techniques for applying the specific construction applications to real-life problems.”
“You make sure everyone has an equal part in it, but also you’re not forcing anyone to do anything that they don’t feel comfortable with,” Herrera said.
Director of Mathematics, Science, Technology and Music Ms. Leone said the course gives students a break from traditional classroom learning.
“There’s music kids, there’s sports kids and there’s other kids that just like to work with their hands, so this is just another opportunity for them,” Leone said.
She said this class is so popular because it equips students with valuable lessons.
“What these kids are learning here is going to help them for the rest of their lives,” Leone said. “[Students] know that this is going to be a skill that they’re going to need forever.”
