BHS program needs help

By MIKE RICHESON Bigfork Eagle

For nearly 30 years, Bigfork High School operated without an auto body class. But now, under the direction of teacher Steve Melkioty, more than 70 students have the chance to learn valuable mechanic skills.

The program returned last fall, and although the students have worked hard with minimal resources, Melkioty is calling on the community for help.

“We need a paint booth for the auto body class,” Melkioty said. “We can’t paint anything until we get that booth.”

The program needs to raise $12,000 for the paint booth. In the meantime, Melkioty hopes that a professional auto body shop will let his students use their booths until BHS can get one.

Bigfork High School and the superintendent are supportive of the auto body and mechanic program and have pledged financial support, Melkioty said that he doesn’t want to put the whole burden on the school, which struggles to keep all the other programs funded as well. He hopes that his program can purchase and have the paint booth set up by the end of the school year.

“I have 70 students that are behind this,” Melkioty said. “We have to be very mindful that other things are going on in the school as well, and we don’t want to step on their feet.”

Fund-raising will also be part of the plan. Melkioty said that if people want an oil change, they can call him at the school and his students will do the work for a very reasonable fee.

“Our labor rates are miniscule compared to anywhere,” he said.

The shop class is also looking for decent, donated cars to fix up and sell. The class has already donated a car and sold another for about a third of Blue Book value.

The field of auto mechanics is huge, and many of the positions don’t require twisting wrenches. The industry is also faced with a large shortage of qualified workers. Melkioty said that Bigfork’s auto mechanics program, one of just 15 in the entire state, gives students a significant and valuable skill to use later in life.

, whether as a way to put themselves through school or as a career.

Students coming out of one-year tech schools like Universal Technical Institute can make an excellent wage.

“This class is giving us an opportunity and its also opening new doors for us,” junior Brittany Hall said.

Steve Melkioty can be reached by calling 837-7420 ext. 249.