Steve McAdoo, STC maintenance supervisor (left), Dale Demeulenaere, construction superintendent for Garling Construction and Adam Van Gorp, Stuxture Architects, were maong those discussing the progress on the new education addition to the South Tama High School in Tama on Tuesday, Oct. 11. Crews are busy erecting walls and with mechanical jobs in preperation for interior work which is slated to continue throughout the winter. News-Herald/John Speer

Although running about three weeks behind schedule, work on the classroom addition to the South Tama High School in Tama is progressing with construction officials saying the eye remains on the Aug. 1, 2017, completion date.

Steve McAdoo, South Tama maintenance supervisor, noted interior renovations including moving the art room to the industrial tech area and completion of a drafting and new industrial technology room have already been completed within the existing building.

Foundations and walls are now going up on the two-story addition which will feature seven new classrooms.

Dale Demeulenaere, construction superintendent for Garling Construction, Belle Plaine the general contractor, said he expects the addition to be enclosed by December.

Work will then continue through the winter he said. Currently Garling has about 20 employees working on the site daily.

The brick sample above at the South Tama High School addition site will “compliment” the brick on the orignal 1968 building construction officials said Tuesday. News-Herald photos/John Speer

Adam Van Gorp, Stuxture Engineers, Waterloo, and Demeulenaere estimated the work is now between 20-25 percent complete.

The addition is being built on the southwest side of the building on the spot where portable classrooms were located from 1987 until this past summer when they were razed. Adjacent to the two-level addition a new band room is being built.

The lower abd upper classroom levels total 26,480 sq. ft. Remodeling inside the existing building covers another 26,480 sq. ft.

The Garling contract approved by the STC School Board on May 23 is for $5,740,000.

Bonds to pay for the new construction in the amount of $6,315,000 were approved on June 8.

Repayment of the bonds is from funds generated from the SAVE fund, a sales tax funding vehicle based upon student enrollment.

It was estimated by the district a totla of about $1.47 million will be received by the district with the amount growing when enrollment increases.

The original South Tama High School was opened in February, 1968. Cost of the building and site was $1,165,955.