News-Herald photos/John Speer

“It’s meant to be a planning tool for the board and district -other than urgent (needs),” Mike Carroll, project executive for Estes Construction, told the South Tama School Board members Monday night, April 8. The board received an in depth, 10-part evaluation of the four school buildings, their property and the athletic facilities from Sherry Trukal and Carroll representing the assessment team.

The Estes firm, with an office in West Des Moines, was chosen by the board on Dec. 17 of last year to conduct the study after submitting the low cost quote totaling $12,500 from a field of four companies. News-Herald files show the last South Tama facilities study was conducted in 2010.

The in-depth report is loaded with what Carroll said were about 250 photos accompanying the recommendations. The company conducted on-site inspections in February as well as being provided with district records as requested.

Now it will be up to the board members, staff and likely some community members to evaluate the information.

Superintendent Jared Smith suggested the STC Booster Club as an organization with members who would be good representatives to see the study. He added the report will be made available to all whom are interested.

The assessment goes into detail of improvements needed and cost by categories of health and life saeft, building improvements and site improvements. The are ranked by priorities of urgent, required, recomended and suggested. The cost totals are given in a range of low to high.

The overall high figure for everything needed – $25,429,036 to a low estimated cos of $14,240,830.

The decisions made are up to financial ability, priority and choice of direction the study notes.

Of these figures a total of improvements classed as urgent ranged with a price tag totaling $1,720,080 on the low end to $2,484,249 on the high side. Next are required improvements- $7,993,159 – $12,909,144, many of which involve aspects of health and safety according to the rpeort.

Some of these health and safety and urgent issues at various locations include asbestos removal, needs for Americans With Disabilities Act compliant restrooms and building exterior and interior access, new fire detection equipment,

Supt. Smith and board members immediately said they recognized the summary requires stydy and that’s where “prioritization meetings” could come into play with public as well as board and staff invovlvement.

Here’s a breakdown of the categories as presented in the Estes report:

Total cost by facility in low to high range- Partnership Center- $3,997 – $6,439,965; Middle School- $5,599,910 – $9,277,629; Elementary School- $1,655,355 – $3,460,834; High School- $3,195 – $5,270,358; Concessions-Weight Room- $68,162 – $101,489; Four Seasons Building- $38,027 – $54,067; and Athletic Fields- $686,431 – $824,694.

Some of the health and safety and urgent or required issues at various locations include asbestos removal, Americans With Disabilities Act compliant restrooms and interior and exterior business access and replacement of fire detection equipment.