Once this school year is over Tahoma High school will no longer offer wood shop.

As part of its closure, the school is auctioning off all of the equipment in an effort to make room for two science classes which will move into the wood shop classroom.

According to Tahoma Principal Terry Duty, the wood shop program has suffered from low student interest for the past six years.

“We’ve really struggled with enrollment,” he said. “We tried everything from adding a construction trades program to kids building skateboard decks and speakers.”

In spite of this, Duty said, it got to the point where just 43 kids signed up for the class.

“We really have a philosophy where we try to get kids in the classes they want to take and not just where we have room,” he said.

Finally, Duty was forced to reduce the wood shop teacher, Jack Gerber, from full time to part-time. Gerber resigned in December.

Duty explained another factor which played into the decision was due to space constraints.

“The size of our woodshed is the equivalent of four classes,” he said. “To have four classes for 43 kids just didn’t make any sense.”

The woodshed will be used for science classes, such as the new robotics program, which Duty said already has 73 students signed up for it. The decision also comes on the heels of the Tahoma Robotics Team’s first place at the regional competition which, Duty said, is an indication of the shifting student interest toward courses that teach applicable skills.

“What we’ve created with the robotic side is there’s a lot of interest in kids in building them,” he said. “It’s still a hands on thing. It’s just a more marketable skill set and that what drives the classes that kids take. We’re excited about the new program.”

Tahoma spokesperson Kevin Patterson stated that the district recognized the shift and changed its strategy.

At the same time, Duty said, he is sad to see the program go.

“I’m an old wood shop guy and kind of lament the fact that it’s leaving,” he said. “But just putting the kids in there is not the way to have success for a program. The woods program just didn’t have the interest within our community to survive. It’s from the industrial age to the technical.”