Centre approves building project

A major building project in the works for more than a year formally was approved Monday by the Centre school board.

The project, without extensive borrowing, will extend the west wing of the school to include pre-school and kindergarten rooms that will double as safe rooms and add two day-care rooms.

A concessions stand and bathrooms for the ball field will be attached to the north side of the kindergarten room.

Total cost is estimated at $2,600,450. A $1,056,730 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be used to construct the safe rooms.

NF Construction, Marion, was hired as general contractor for the project.

School board president Eric Carlson said $1.2 million from capital outlay would be added to grant money to cover most of the project.

“A small loan may be needed,” he said.

Carlson was excited about the project.

“It will have a lot of benefits for our students and staff, as well as the entire Centre community,” he said.

The project is expected to take 13 months to complete.

After the project is complete, a separate new day-care facility that was completed several months ago will become a weight room.

Superintendent Larry Geist said he expects construction will get under in early April.