Baldwin UFSD Helps Craft Student Futures Through Unique Collaborations

Jones Beach State Park crew recently picked up the lifeguard storage boxes built by Baldwin High School’s woodworking class just in time for the upcoming summer season. The exclusive partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has been thriving for more than two decades. Baldwin students have completed various projects for Jones Beach as well as other New York state parks, from lifeguard equipment to crowd control barricades. Collaborations also extend to the Baldwin community through the Community Garden and Chamber of Commerce and across the district, such as the oak benches for the high school’s Learning Collaboratory or Brookside Elementary School’s new faux fireplace.

“Roughly thirty years ago, the New York State Education Department eliminated the Industrial Arts curriculum—what was often referred to as ‘shop classes’—and replaced it with the Technology Education curriculum,” explained Mr. Scott Peritz, who is retiring from Baldwin Union Free School District this June after 26 years of teaching woodworking at Baldwin High School. “Many school districts eliminated their shop classrooms and turned those spaces into computer rooms—their definition of 'technology'. Fortunately for the Baldwin community, the Baldwin Board of Education and the superintendent of schools had the foresight to overlay technology education on top of the existing shop classrooms, giving Baldwin a distinct advantage and the best of both Technology Education and Industrial Arts.”

As part of the Technology Education department’s “construction career pathway,” students from grades 9 through 12 develop either basic or advanced carpentry skills. They have access to a fully equipped woodshop, where they bring their research and designs to life, utilizing tools and technical concepts safely and effectively. Whether pursuing careers in engineering or carpentry, or simply taking an interest in DIY projects, students gain valuable hands-on experiences that connect theory to practice. 

This year, over 75 students are enrolled in carpentry courses, with total participation exceeding 100 when including stagecraft classes. In addition to the use of tools and techniques, students also learn AutoCAD—a versatile drafting and design application employed by professionals across industries, including architects, project managers, engineers, interior designers, graphic designers, city planners, and others to draft technical drawings.

Jones Beach plans to deploy the pressure-treated lumber storage boxes—also known as ‘deadman’ boxes—before the Memorial Day opening weekend, demonstrating how the partnerships developed by the district not only help shape students’ futures but contribute to the community and state.

“As the state education department shifts the focus to more Career and Technical Education (CTE) coursework, once again Baldwin is ahead of the curve. Our offerings of hands-on learning combined with the use of technology sets our students up for whatever is next,” added Mr. Peritz.

Indeed, these real-world experiences align with the district's commitment to Baldwin 2035, fostering learning opportunities beyond the classroom, while the student-produced work promotes a much richer learning experience for everyone involved.