Sutter students visit bridge project site
As part of the CREATE Mentoring Program, several Sutter High School students visited the bridge construction site in February to learn about details and the multitude of different careers that are part of the $70 million project, which will be completed in the spring of 2020.
“We brought them into the office to give them an overview about what goes into the design, engineering and construction for the project – we talked about the dynamics and answered questions they had,” said Ben Moody, with Yuba City. “Then, we went out to the site and that gave them a chance to see it in action.”
Moody, the city’s Department of Public Works director of engineering, said the Feb. 8 visit was a success and another is planned with River Valley High students.
“Actually seeing the construction and building gets everybody excited and relaying the real-life experience motivates them,” Moody said. “I hope it gives them a little direction in life’s endeavors and that it gives them a real idea of the different elements and careers that are part of a big project.”
He said the students were interested in the project work but they also wanted to know what Chris Mcdonald, with MCM Construction, works on a pile that will be part of the new Fifth Street Bridge at Beckwourth Riverfont Park in Marysville.
was going to happen to the existing Fifth Street Bridge, which was built in 1958.
“Almost everyone in the class wanted to know how they were going to demolish the existing bridge,” he said. “We know that the engineering field is small but there’s a lot of work with a lot of career possibilities.”
Moody said the city is open to other school or group visits and people can refer to the website for more info.
The CREATE Mentoring Program is part of the Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange Education, a nonprofit organization that aims
to educate students about career pathways in construction.
Bud Myers is the team advisor for the Sutter High School CREATE Team and said the benefits of field trips in this program are multiple.
“Field trips are experiences that provide the opportunity for students to encounter and explore novel things in an authentic setting,” Myers said. “Students experience a more holistic, integrated picture of the information that, in the classroom, may have only been presented in a textual and abstract way.”
For bridge updates visit www.5thstreetbridge.com
After the school shooting in Florida, and countless others prior to it, lawmakers have been at odds over the best way to keep children safe. But a California Assembly bill requiring an armed guard at every public school might be gaining traction.
Assemblyman James Gallagher, R-yuba City, authored Assembly Bill 2067, which would require schools to hire a peace officer specially trained to work with children. The bill passed in the Assembly Education Committee with a 5-0 vote on Wednesday.
Gallagher penned the bill because he believes having at least one trained officer on campus is the best way to keep students safe in the event of a school shooting. He disagrees with current laws restricting concealed carry permits on school property, but feels his bill is the best alternative to arming school staff.
“The Legislature has done much to disarm our law-abiding citizens, but we have not done enough to protect our community against criminals and the mentally insane that are determined to do harm. And we must do better to protect our schools and our children which have become the ultimate soft targets,” Gallagher said.
Funding to provide the officers to California’s schools would come from the state’s General Fund if the bill passes, Gallagher said. He also said the bill would have no impact on money schools receive through the Local Control Funding Formula.
“I know that there will be a cost to this bill. But as a parent, and I am sure many parents can agree, you can’t put a price on keeping your kids safe,” Gallagher said.
The bill is currently awaiting consideration by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.