District 91 Prepares For Construction

Now that Idaho Falls District 91 has received the go ahead from voters school administrators are moving forward with construction plans.

The $53 million bond passed with a 78 percent approval.

Construction is scheduled to begin with a new Dora Erickson Elementary School in June and then three more elementary schools will follow suit.

Dora Erickson was built in the mid ’50s, well before computers or Wi-Fi.

With limited ability to teach in the 21st century, Principal John Murdoch says the students and staff are looking forward to upgrade.

“The kids were excited talking about it. The staff almost couldn’t believe it because many have been there for so long. They heard they were getting a school for so many years but when it passed, it was amazing all the excitement,” Murdoch said.

The district has an aggressive schedule planned for the bond projects.

Ethel Boyes Elementary breaks ground in July, Edgemont Elementary in August and Longfellow Elementary spring 2013.

The new elementary schools will be built alongside the existing schools and once construction is completed the schools fields and playground will be moved to where the current school rests.

The new schools will be two stories, classrooms will be larger than the current ones, and each classroom will be equipped to handle the demands for a 21st century education.

“They are more energy efficient. The district is going to get a payback energy wise, a lot quicker than just a standard new building,? Clements said. ?They are really nice layouts. There is no wasted space. It’s a simple design yet it’s going to look nice.”

With four elementary schools, construction manager Mike Clements says 75 to 100 subcontractors could bid on the four schools.

“We want to get as many of them involved in this process as possible,” Clements said.

Upgrades will be made at the district’s two high schools as well as the new tech high school over the next two years.

Idaho Falls High School will get an upgrade to its cafeteria and bathrooms this next summer. Asbestos will be removed from parts of the building and new lockers will be installed to accommodate incoming freshman.

In 2013 Skyline High School’s science wing will be remodeled and the building will get new windows and doors. Bunker Elementary will get an additional four classrooms and Emerson High School will get an update to its electrical and HVAC systems.

Clair E. Gale will be remodeled as it is transformed into the district New Tech school.

Classes will go on as normal during construction.

“The people we will have working on these job sites we will have trained in appropriate work ethics as they will be working around students at the same time,? Clements said.

“We are going to lose a bit of our playground because it will be fenced off for the construction area. So I think there might be some frustrations that the kids don’t have all the room they need when they are outside playing soccer, running around for recess or that there may be some danger points. We’ll just have to really work together to make sure we keep the kids safe and follow the progress with our building,? Murdoch said.

The schools will take about 14 months each to complete.

The district will post the construction time line on its website after spring break.