DAVE BENJAMIN James Wasser (c), Freehold Regional High School District superintendent of schools, admires the new desk in his office which was built by students in classes taught by James Wilson (l) at Freehold Township High School. Students Richard Moran, Angelo Caccioptoli, and Michael Malachatka (l-r) helped to assemble the desk.
special desk for supt.’s office
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
A group of Freehold Township High School students recently delivered a labor of love — a new office desk for the Freehold Regional High School District superintendent of schools.
"I think it’s wonderful that the students in this program have this kind of talent," said James Wasser, superintendent of schools. "Sometimes we question whether we offer enough opportunities for young people."
Wasser said building the desk was a great experience for those students who are going into the trade.
"That they can put together a project of this type, I’m just amazed," he said as the students assembled the desk in his office at the district’s headquarters in Englishtown. "I’m very impressed at their abilities, and it’s so beautiful."
The superintendent’s new desk was constructed from cherry and Canadian red birch woods and finished with a Brazilian rosewood stain.
"The design and color are so unique," said the superintendent. "I’ve seen desks in stores and magazines that don’t have the same design and quality. It’s nice, because in this office I have people coming in for interviews. What better icebreaker and conversation piece to have than a product made by the students? Everyone will see the quality of the work that our students do. This will be here for a lifetime."
Senior Michael Malachatka said he worked on the desk for about two months. He explained that instructor James Wilson drew up a preliminary plan and the students followed through on that idea.
Senior Angelo Caccioptoli said, "I used the CadKey 98 program in the architecture classroom. Basically, getting the dimensions from Mr. Wilson and putting them together to design the desk for the superintendent."
Peeking out from under the desk as he was installing it in Wasser’s office, senior Rich Moran said, "Right now, I’m putting in the T-anchors to seal the top pieces of the desk. This is going to pull the seam together to make it almost invisible. When we put the glass on top you won’t be able to tell there is a seam."
Moran said the modular desk is so large that it had to be built, delivered and installed in sections.
Speaking of the project, he said, "Every student had a job. Every student did his or her part in the project. It all came together to make what you see here. A lot of sanding, a lot of (fine) work and a lot of finishing, staining, waxing. All of us worked together to make this desk.
"The teaching that came from this desk is second to none. The workmanship we learned, the techniques. The lessons that came from making this desk, you can’t match. This is real world teaching that we got to put into play," the FTHS senior said.
Wilson, a cabinet maker by trade who teaches cabinet making, carpentry and basic woodworking, said the students worked hard on the project and learned many skills they will be able to apply in the future.
"These guys can actually use all the skills that they learned to build their own furniture and can go into this as a profession or as an avocation," the teacher said.
Although only three students were chosen to assemble the desk and add the finishing touches in Wasser’s office, more than 40 Freehold Township High School students played a role in the project.
"More importantly, all the students learned through osmosis," said Wilson. "They saw. They absorbed. They followed. They watched and asked questions. Every day they came to see what advancements were made until they saw the finished product. This desk is 10 times better than the plastic furniture that came out of here. This desk is going to last forever."