Bonanza’s new shop features state-of-the-art equipment

The school uses nearly $500,000 in grants to update facilities and offer new programs.

Students at Bonanza Jr/Sr High School are taking classes this year in a renovated shop with new state-of-the-art equipment, including nine welding booths, a CNC plasma machine, a laser engraver, ShopBot CNC router, new construction tools, and an updated small project/drafting room.

Last year, the school was awarded two grants — $250,000 from the Oregon Department of Education to revitalize its Career and Technical Education programs and $228,000 from the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Future Ready Oregon to start a pre-apprenticeship construction and carpentry program. The funds were used to purchase the much – needed equipment and renovate the interior of the decades-old shop building. The shop floor plan was redesigned, allowing for better use of space, and a small wood shop was created in one section.

This school year, students are reaping the benefits of learning workplace-ready skills to use industry-standard equipment and tools.

In an advanced manufacturing class last week, students spent time figuring out how to program computer software to operate the new CNC plasma machine and an OMTech laser engraver cutting machine.

By the end of the class period, Billy had fixed an issue that was reversing the laser design on the machine and Daniel used the CNC plasma machine to create metal art with the words Bonanza Football. In the shop’s loft area, another student was creating a mini baseball bat with the new wood lathe.

Construction and ag mechanics teacher Nick Sparks was hired in fall of 2023 to revitalize the school’s ag mechanics and construction programs. He has done that and more, said Jordan Osborn, principal of Bonanza Junior/Senior High School.

“It’s fun to see our students using the new equipment and machines. We need these classes and quality facilities so our students can learn the skills they need to be ready to work,” Osborn said “This is Nick’s vision,” he added, indicating the renovated shop and students busy with projects.

The school offered its first pre-apprenticeship class last year, and the program expanded this year. It operates in partnership with Klamath Community College, Southern Oregon Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, and industry and trade organizations.

Overall, more than 100 Bonanza students are enrolled in one of the six ag mechanic and construction courses. As part of its CTE curriculum, all students are required to take an introductory to CTE/construction/manufacturing class and junior high school students must take a mandatory exploratory class. Bonanza’s first pre-apprenticeship graduates are expected in 2026.

The school’s business program, led by Spencer Jackson, also teams up with the ag and construction students, creating logos and T-shirts. The plan is to create a student-led business model, so student work sees real-life applications.

The shop renovation and new equipment is just one of many projects completed to update the school over the past few years. The Bonanza community celebrated the grand opening of a new 16,422-square-foot gymnasium earlier this month. Renovations have included updating and remodeling the culinary classroom, science labs, and weight room, as well as creating a makerspace and the Bo’ Town Showcase, a newly renovated common area that highlights student achievements, provides study and meeting areas, and is home to the school’s first-ever student store, the Grubhub.