When school is business – Skyline students get credit for making money

It’s a situation that probably sounds too good to be true to most high school students.

By JO DEE BLACK
Tribune Staff Writer

Get credits for running businesses on school time and take home some of the profits too.

Students who take part in Skyline Enterprises, an umbrella for a number of student-run businesses at Skyline Alternative High School, say it’s plenty of work, but rewarding too.

The set-up gives students a chance to use lessons they learn in class in practical ways, instructors say.

"This is hands-on (and) reality based, when so much of what students learn is theoretical," said Mary Ann Cosgrove, Skyline’s principal.

Senior Heather Colon is a student member of Skyline Designs, which uses computers software to create an array of products, such as personalized calendars, scrapbooks and Power Point presentations.

"This is the best class I’ve ever taken in high school," she said. "I’m a lot more computer literate now."

Instructor Jeannie Hanson said students in Skyline Designs get to experience the relevancy of what they learn immediately.

"There’s some profit sharing involved, so that’s a motivation too," she said.

Skyline Enterprise businesses use money generated from sales to cover material expenses and other costs. Profit is then divided up among students. Their share is proportionate to the number of hours they work.

Like many fledgling small business owners, students in Skyline Enterprise ventures aren’t getting rich.

This month students in The Company, a catering business that also runs Skyline High School’s coffee shop, made $1.70 per hour.

Rosemary Neilsen is the teacher who oversees Avant Gear, a student sewing business that sells everything from baby quilts to personalized Christmas stockings.

"We run this as a cooperative and each student has to hold an office," Neilsen said. "They have to cost-out products based on the time and materials that go into it. Then they have to come up with a marketing plan for a product."

Avant Gear students also complete an exercise in writing a business plan.

"We had to create a budget, decided where we’d get financing and fill out our loan applications," said Krista Hegel, a senior who has been in the program two years.

Motivation isn’t a problem for students in the Skyline Enterprises programs, their instructors say.

"I never have to tell them to get busy when they come into the classroom," Neilsen said.

Senior Anton Pfleger is a member of The Company, a catering business that also runs the school’s coffee shop.

"It’s a good wake-up call in the morning," he said.

Debbie McCarty, The Company’s instructor, said she’s repeatedly amazed at the work loads her students handle.

"It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of hours, but they always seems to handle everything I throw at them," she said.

The students’ pride in their products is obvious.

"I love to cook and now I can make things I never believed I could before until I tried it," Pfleger said. "And it feels good when customers are satisfied."

Senior Mitch Thronson is a former member of The Company and is now in Lynx Grafix.

He plans to attend culinary school in Portland after graduation.

"I’ve always liked to cook and I think I might like to own my own business some day," he said.

Junior Alyssa Peressini, who was named The Company Member of the Year last year, said her fine-tuned cooking skills have helped in other subjects.

"I struggle with math, with fractions, but now I just think about it in cooking terms, like quarter cups and half cups, and I can figure it out," she said.

Skyline Enterprises will hold a holiday fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday at Skyline Alternative High School, 3300 3rd St. N.E.

Products from Avant Gear, The Company, Lynx Grafix and Skyline Designs will be for sale.

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