Army Corp Completes ESC at Kingston
Dr. Dave Markward, Superintendent joins others cutting the ribbon to the New ESC at Kingston.
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Since the June floods seriously damaged the Educational Service Center, District central service departments have worked from classrooms and offices in various schools. This week, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) completed their work on the 35 modular building complex at 907 15th Street SW that will serve as a the temporary home for those departments. The project was completed in just over seven weeks. The Army Corp hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 21.
The ESC at Kingston, located north of Kingston Stadium, is expected to be ready to be occupied the first week of September, after furniture is moved in and communication connections are complete. About 130 staff will be located there. Departments will include the Superintendent’s Office, Accounting Services, Human Resources, Benefits and Payroll, Buildings and Grounds, Business Services, Community Relations, Continuous Improvement, Custodial and Grounds, Step-Up Preschool, Curriculum Services, Learning and Leadership, Research and Evaluation, Student Services, Special Services, Teacher Mentoring, TV-Media, Food and Nutrition, and Volunteer Services. The complex will also include storage areas and meeting space for the Board of Education and professional development.
The Corps constructed the modular building complex for $3.7 million. The project was funded 90% by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and 10 percent by the State of Iowa.
“We hope that these facilities will help the District, particularly during this critical school year,” said Dick Hainje, Army Corp Region VII Administrator.
The USACE provided 21 modular buildings of one type for office use. Each building is 24-ft. wide by 56-ft. long, with four 12-ft by 12-ft. offices. The remaining square footage is centrally-located open space. The buildings were constructed with vinyl exterior siding and topped with a low-pitch asphalt-shingled roof.
The Corp also provided 21 modular buildings of another design to be used as conference, storage, and computer rooms. These are 24-ft. wide by 60-ft. long; the interiors are divided into two equally-sized rooms, about 700-sq. ft. each. Construction includes aluminum siding topped with a low-pitched, rubber-membrane roof. Also:
- Each building has heating and air conditioning, two doors, and fire alarms.
- Buildings are set on a series of concrete piers and anchored to comply with industry standards and local building codes.
- The buildings are connected with a treated lumber walkway with stairs and ramps positioned at convenient access points.
“One of the core values of our Strategic Plan is teamwork,” explained Dr. Dave Markward, Superintendent, in thanking all of those involved. “Your coordinated and collaborative efforts have translated into the reality of housing our displaced central services on this site for the coming months and, possibly, beyond.
“From the onset of the flood on June 11, we have been in a state of constant decision making, and your presence and guidance has helped us to select and actualize a viable solution to one of our vital facility needs,” Markward added.
Six District facilities were seriously impacted by the flooding. These structures are the ESC, Annex, Warehouse, Carpenter and Paint Workshop, Roosevelt Transition Center, and Taylor Elementary School. There was also water in the basement at Harrison Elementary School. Warehouse functions, as well as the District Graphics and Printing and Technology departments, have already been relocated to leased space at 931 Blairs Ferry Road NE.
Classes begin for all District schools on August 26.