Jackson School Board will examine ways to improve the Dodson Branch School portable buildings.
The board approved the evaluation of the Dodson Branch School portable buildings, allowing an architect to determine an accurate bid price. Director of Schools Jason Hardy said Maintenance Supervisor Josh Morgan and Dodson Branch School Brian Lee discussed replacing the classrooms.
“We know, we feel like these portables are on their last leg,” Hardy said. “So we’ve got a temporary plan in order to make sure when the time comes and these portables are out of use that we can make it work, but that’s a short term plan.”
Hardy said the board needs to come up with a long-term solution, as the buildings will not last much longer with repairs or refurbishment. Hardy said they have looked at the internal portion of the structures, hoping to make the space work. Hardy said there is one space that could be turned into a classroom with effort. Hardy said they could have stand alone buildings or evaluate the price of adding onto the existing structure.
Morgan said a portable would be cheaper, though installing it could damage the power and sidewalks in the area, which would need to be replaced.
Board Member Shannon Wilson said he wanted to know if they could do anything to improve the quality of the current units. Morgan said the buildings were too far gone to improve or repair.
Hardy said the project would not move forward until the beginning of the year. Hardy said the architect would help move the project along, producing a quote on the work. Hardy said the Board has a short-term plan for where to keep the children until the project is approved.
Morgan said several of the high school and middle school bleachers have broken seats. The bleachers both schools use are outdated, as the companies that made the seats do not make them anymore. Morgan said once a seat is damaged, the school must remove the row and replace it with updated seats.
“But they can take the good seats and put them in other places so you don’t have to buy a new row every time one’s busted,” Morgan said.
Morgan said the bleacher repairs would cost $30,000 to $40,000 for the middle school. Morgan said the high school was a cheaper job, as the middle school bleachers have broken supports. Morgan said every year the prices for bleachers get higher, so a full replacement is recommended.
“I mean, especially if it is a safety concern, I think we need to move forward with the quotes and everything,” Board Member Ron Eldridge said.
