Discussion continues at Great Bend USD 428 concerning the future of the former Washington Elementary School at 2535 Lakin Ave. Todd Dumler, senior project manager with McCown Gordon, spoke to the school board last week. No action was taken.
The following summary was provided by Andrea Bauer, public information director for Great Bend Public Schools.
Previous estimates on varying scopes of work have ranged between $1 million and $3.3 million. A project that includes razing the Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC) along with the oldest part of the building is estimated to cost $568,000.
Three separate structures at the 2535 Lakin property were discussed:
1. Washington School is situated between the later-added PTRC building on the west side and the childhood education classrooms and gymnasium on the east side. The discussion regarding demolition primarily concerns this building, which was constructed in 1919. Current programs at Washington include RISE, TLC, and various special education student programs.
2. The Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC) is an addition on the west side of Washington. PTRC receives the primary electrical feed from Washington and lacks bathroom facilities, complicating the building’s functionality if Washington were demolished. Demolishing the PTRC addition would be less expensive than making the necessary modifications to convert it into an independent building. If this building were to be demolished, PTRC would relocate.
3. The east classroom and gymnasium wing, constructed in 1950 and 1980, was home to Helping Hands Preschool before merging with Little Panthers Preschool. This building has six classrooms, a fully functional gymnasium, and a playground. The expansion of district student programs has created a growing need for alternative learning spaces, and next year, the RISE and TLC programs will occupy these vacated classrooms. Seclusion rooms and other renovations must be addressed to meet the unique needs of students in the RISE and TLC programs.
Todd Dumler, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, representing the district’s Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), discussed probable costs with the board, estimating that the project would cost the district approximately $568,000. This estimate includes the demolition of the Washington and PTRC buildings, necessary work to separate and shore up the east wing, site improvements, and securing areas to ensure safety. Other project components include hazardous materials testing and abatement, architectural fees, the addition of doors, and the creation of seclusion areas in three classrooms, which are required for the RISE program. If the Board votes to proceed with this option, McCownGordon will solicit bids from local vendors for the projects.
To fully understand the extent of the facility’s needs, the school board toured the Washington building on April 30. The estimated calculations provided by the district’s CMAR were briefly discussed, and board members noted that all factors must be considered to make financially feasible and responsible decisions.
