The walls came tumblin’ down. It took Loren Dostal, Dostal Construction, just over one-half hour on Tuesday morning, July 5, to demolish the portable classrooms at South Tama High School. The work makes way for the construction of a $6.3 million addition to the school. News-Herald photos/John Speer

Four portable classrooms at South Tama High School were demolished in quick order by Loren Dostal, Dostal Construction, Toledo, on Tuesday morning, July 5.The resulting debris was hauled to the Tama County Landfill.

The portable classrooms were put into use in 1987 and among the roles over the years have been for English and math classrooms.

“(The) portables were appraised and found to be of no value and would be removed and demolished,” Supt Mary Jones told The News-Herald on Tuesday.

Their removal was part of the overall bid with Garling Construction and included in part of the $5.74 million construction bid.

Garling, of Belle Plaine, is already at work on the South Tama High School classroom addition which will include classrooms, a new band room and interior remodeling. The completion date is Aug. 1, 2017 in time for the 2017-18 school year.

The portable classrooms located adjacent to the south educational wing at South Tama High School came down quickly at the hands of Dostal Construction equipment on Tuesday morning, July 5.

In the meantime, For the 2016-17 school year the four math classrooms which had been housed in the portables will be relocated to the staff lounge, special education room, current art room and Spanish / Talented and Gifted room, Jones said.

Supt. Jones earlier told the News-Herald the work will also include two science rooms, an elevator, a student lounge and collaborative space, a small meeting room, two new bathrooms and a remodel of the library and art rooms.

Upon completion of the new band room, the vocal music room will be relocated to the band rooms.

“We have not decided what to do with the vocal room as it is currently not Americans With Disabilities (ADA) accessible. Some ideas are to raise the floor and use it as an additional classroom or keep it for theatre storage. It currently has band room storage in it,” Jones said.

There will be a total debt service of $7,674,878.14, for the work with the last payment being July 1, 2019.

The South Tama High School portable classrooms are seen from the south just as Loren Dostal began demolition on Tuesday morning, July 5.