The School District of Rhinelander (SDR) is making significant strides toward becoming the premier destination for future tradespeople to earn their high school diplomas. The community passed a $26 million referendum in April 2024, which has given the district the resources it needs to expand its Technology Education facilities and other programming.
At RVI, we’re very excited about this expansion because we’ve seen firsthand how these programs create skilled, dedicated workers. Our co-owner Sam Hartmann has been deeply involved with the Building Trades program at Rhinelander High School (RHS), and we’re proud to support both the students and the community through this partnership.
What Are the Upcoming Improvements for the School District of Rhinelander?
The upcoming expansion is both impressive and practical. Here’s what students will have access to by Summer 2026:
Rhinelander High School
- Expanded welding, woodworking, and manufacturing shops
- New dedicated construction space
- Auto/small engine/marine shop
- Fab lab for modern manufacturing
- Robotics area
James Williams Middle School
- Updated Tech Ed, art, and Family & Consumer Education rooms
- New secure entry and office space
- Tech Ed classes starting in sixth grade
These improvements are creating modern, hands-on learning environments that will give students real-world experiences before they graduate.
One of the best parts of the RHS Building Trades program is how students work on actual Habitat for Humanity houses. A local donor gave Habitat several lots right next to the high school, so students can literally walk to their construction projects.
This setup is perfect. Students get to work on real homes that will house real families. They learn proper construction techniques while giving back to the community. And because we partner with Habitat for Humanity, every house gets RVI’s High-Performance System for air sealing and insulation at a deeply discounted rate.
It’s a win for everyone involved:
- Students get hands-on experience
- Families get energy-efficient homes
- The community gets skilled workers
- Local businesses get trained employees
Skills That Transfer Into the Real World
Blake Klingen is a perfect example of how this program works. He’s a senior at RHS who worked with RVI this past summer as a technician. Blake quickly became an asset to our team, and he’s continuing to work with us through his senior year using the school’s work release program.
If Blake keeps working with us, he can apply for a grant through the Headwaters Builders Association in the spring. This shows how the connections between school, local businesses, and industry associations create real opportunities for students.
This program has prepared me for my future by exposing me to different things that I might want to do like construction framing, houses, finish work, all kinds of different trade skills that can come in handy later on in life. – Blake
Why This Matters for Wisconsin Contractors
All of us who employ skilled trades need young, trained workers. Programs like this are solving that problem by exposing talented young people to the trades as early as middle school. They get the chance to work in modern facilities with actual equipment and even work on real projects. Plus, the school’s focus on the skilled trades is creating pathways from classrooms to careers.
We believe that the community’s $26 million investment demonstrates its understanding of the importance of skilled trades. Construction began in April 2025, and the full expansion should be complete by summer 2026.
Blake sees value in the expanion of the trades program, even though he himself won’t benefit from it as he will have graduate this school year.
I’m excited for when I graduate beause of all the different options that I could go in to, having learned so many different parts of trade work and having that experience to go into something. – Blake
Building Our Future Workforce
At RVI, we believe in investing in the next generation. We work closely with the RHS Building Trades program and Habitat for Humanity because we believe in building the skilled workforce our industry needs.
When students like Blake get real experience with companies like ours, everyone benefits. The student gets training and a potential career path. We get dedicated workers who understand quality and building science. And the community gets skilled tradespeople who will stick around and contribute locally.
The RHS expansion is creating something special. It’s a pipeline from classroom to career that serves students, businesses, and families throughout Northern Wisconsin. We’re proud to be part of it, and we’re excited to see what these students will build next!
