School board votes to move modular buildings to DCMS

The USD 443 Board of Education voted Wednesday to move six of its modular classrooms to the Dodge City Middle School as a short-term solution for overcrowding.
    Two modular units from Linn Elementary School and one unit from Northwest Elementary School will be relocated to the middle school. Each modular unit contains two classrooms and one restroom, so a total of six classrooms and three restrooms will be added to the middle school to accommodate students.  
    "This is to address the overcrowding at the middle school," said board President Dan Reichenborn. "It in no way replaces our need for remodeling the Hennessey Hall and adding a new building."
    JAG Construction was awarded the contract totaling $262,046, which will be paid from the district's capital outlay fund.
  The company has allotted 90 days to complete the project, which includes installing electrical hook-ups, gas lines, security systems, telephone lines, permanent foundations and the Internet.
  The sites will also be returned to their pre-modular state, which accounts for $12,000 of the bid.
  "We need to remove the foundations so no one will be hurt," said William Hammond, executive director of business and operations.
  The modular units were placed on playground space at Northwest and green space at Linn, which will soon be restored.  
   The modular classrooms will be used for several years at the middle school until renovation and building can take place.
  "We're sticking our finger in the dam until we can execute our final solution," Reichenborn said.
  As part of the permanent solution, the board is exploring options for additional middle school facilities and renovation to the current buildings. The district plans to present a referendum for a vote in January 2009.
  The addition of Ross Elementary, which will open in the fall, was the catalyst to relocate the modular classrooms and reduce class sizes throughout the school district.

Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at t.cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.