By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The current Great Bend school district administration has heard stories that the old Washington Elementary School building was initially supposed to be torn down in the late 1990s. The building, at the Washington Avenue and Lakin Avenue intersection, still stands for the use of the Parent Teacher Resource Center (PTRC) and a pair of district initiatives such as the R.I.S.E. program.
Parts of the building were constructed in the early 1900s and the newer section was built in the 1950s. USD 428 Assistant Superintendent John Popp said the cost estimate to demolish the oldest sections and renovate the remaining portion was $3.5 million.
"We know if we tear the whole thing down and try to rebuild, it would be two or two and a half times as much to rebuild as it would be to renovate the 1950s portion," said Popp. "It would be more cost effective to renovate that newer portion. We know the oldest portion just has to come down. We can't renovate that and make it useable space."
USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton said the district’s capital outlay fund has just over $6 million and did not recommend spending that kind of money on an old building.
There are currently unused rooms at the Washington building that contain lead-based paint, lead pipe and asbestos.
"There are rooms in the oldest part of Washington that we believe have been leaking water," said Popp. "We don't currently have any students in there. We're trying to get another estimate. I bring this question to the board or ask for guidance on where you think we should go with the Washington building."
The district will look into the cost to simply demolish the older deteriorating areas without the renovation.