By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
At the USD 428 Board of Education meeting in March, Assistant Superintendent John Popp said a cost estimate to demolish the oldest sections of the old Washington Elementary School building and renovate the remaining portion would be $3.5 million. The Great Bend school board asked Popp to look into the cost to simply demolish the older areas that were built in the early 1900s.
At Monday’s meeting, Popp said the bare minimum cost for demolition and adding a restroom to the other side would be $1,047,145.
"I have had this feeling that our community, in the past, has said they want that building torn down," said Popp. "I'd like to honor that, but I also want to look at the reality of $1 million to tear a building down."
At the March meeting, USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton noted the district's capital outlay fund had just over $6 million.
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.
There are currently unused rooms at the Washington building that contain lead-based paint, lead pipe and asbestos.
"There are a lot of thoughts about it not being safe for kids," said Popp. "It is absolutely safe for kids. Yes, there is asbestos and lead, but that is all contained and abated in the right way in order to be safe for kids. When you tear something down, you uncover all of the stuff that's covered up."
Board member Deanna Essmiller asked if there would be any public interest in purchasing the property as is. The board took no action at Monday’s meeting, but a tour of the building was suggested.