A purring engine and a smooth ride aren't the only goals of the Arlington school district's innovative program called Life's Garage -- the larger job is to steer kids away from trouble and introduce them to better pursuits in the automotive industry.
A dozen at-risk junior high school students checked out the inner workings of the service department at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine on Wednesday, part of a 10-week after-school program that is the inspiration of Anne Weydeck, the Arlington district's transitional liaison at Turning Point Junior High School."My job is to make sure they don't ever return to Turning Point," Weydeck said.Turning Point is the disciplinary campus for students who have had problems on their home campuses.Once a week since Sept. 12, students have been introduced to various aspects of auto repair and maintenance at Classic Chevrolet/Buick dealerships in Grapevine and Arlington, and visited Tarrant County College's South Campus to explore ways of getting the proper training and accreditation required by today's technological auto businesses.The pilot program is new, but organizers say it is gaining traction with students and adults.Weydeck and the Arlington district partnered with the Classic Automotive dealerships and U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, to make the program work. Barton was present on Wednesday to check out the garage with the students, who were handpicked by Weydeck for the program from Carter and Hutcheson junior high schools in east Arlington.Weydeck said she chose junior high students over high school students for Life's Garage "because they can redeem themselves," she said. Sometimes older teens in high school have already gotten into too much trouble for this type of intervention.So far, the students have watched and pitched in to help professionals change tires and oil, do front-end alignments and repair drive trains on as many as 135 cars a day. They have learned how cars are assembled, the technology involved in repair and maintenance, and business aspects of selling and repairing autos."They're getting a big education in the love of doing something with your hands," said Weydeck of her eighth-graders, most of whom are 14.The course will conclude next month with a trip to Texas Motorplex in Ennis, where students will attend a drag race and receive their diplomas for the class from Barton."It's definitely positively affecting the students," said Barton, who contacted Classic owner Tom Durant about the program. "Some of their grades have really improved."Like those of one student, who brought a score of 18 all the way up to an 83, said Weydeck. She checks their grades just before boarding the bus, and those with failing marks or disciplinary problems don't get to go.The staff at the dealership enjoyed the session as much as the students, lingering past closing time to talk and hang out."We've stuck around because some of us could have easily been in their predicament," said shop foreman Joe Laubhan. "They're a good group of kids. They could be anybody's kids.""I just like the smell of the place in here, and the sound of the engines," said one student. His friend, who couldn't look away from a restored 1964 Impala SS, daydreamed about the accessories and premium sound system he could add to it.Weydeck did some daydreaming, too."I'd like to expand this to Life's Cafe, or Life's whatever, to get students interested in the culinary, technological or medical professions," she said.Shirley Jinkins, 817-390-7657Twitter: @startelegramHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
