(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic School Board, during their meeting Wednesday, heard a report from I-CAT (Iowa Construction Advocate Team) member Chad Alley, with regard to an assessment of the district’s facilities, which Alley said are in remarkably good condition, which he attributed to ACSD Maintenance Director Russell Peck and his staff.

Alley said the inspection normally takes two full days, but because the district’s buildings were in such good shape, it only took a day and a morning to complete the assessment, which showed in-part, he said, that the Atlantic Middle School is “absolutely beautiful.”

The school sustained heavy interior smoke and water damage during a fire that began on the roof of the building July, 27, 2021. One-year later, the damage had been repaired and renovations completed in-time for students who were relocated to other district buildings, could go back in their regular classrooms. Chad Alley said the next step for the school board is to talk with some architects for long-term (10-to 15-years) needs and establish a 10-year maintenance plan. That includes a replacement roof for the High School.

The plan would include “Urgent” repairs, replacement or upgrades (those that need to take place in one-to two-years maximum), “Required” (2-to 5-years), “Recommended” (5-to 10-years), and “Suggested” (10-to 15-years out). He said are some Urgent items, a few required, and more of those that are Recommended, in the Maintenance Plan.
The biggest costs would be associated with the High School.

He said Washington Elementary “Is a great old building. It has great bones.” The Early Childhood Center (building) is “Not bad” Alley said. The district’s buildings are currently being inspected and prepared for upgraded safety and security. Some of the suggested improvements in a few of the buildings include additional lighting and ventilation, fire suppression, tuck-pointing and so one.

Alley stressed safety and security should be the highest priority right now, to include parking bollards to prevent vehicle entry into buildings, accidentally or otherwise. He pointed to an incident that occurred in Creston as a reason for the barriers.

He said creating a master plan and talking with an architect are the next big steps. The Iowa Association of School Boards I-Cat program does not cost a penny until a construction project begins. An architect will cost about $30-to $40-thousand dollars, “But it’ll be the best use for a long-term 15-year plan that you can probably come up with.”