Sawyer Renovation Would Top $10 Million

Officials say has a kitchen that is inadequate, tiling and piping in the tunnels have asbestos and there is potential for lead paint in the school.

Sawyer, 4400 Ontario St., has been identified as one of two schools to be replaced in a major facilities overhaul plan district officials are pitching to voters.

Voters will be asked if they would support a $65 million bond referendum to build three new schools, repair two existing schools and reopen Roosevelt Elementary School on Sept. 13. AmesPatch will post information on the condition of each school building and what the district has said it will cost to repair it leading up to the Sept. 13 election.

Sawyer sits on a 10.8-acre site. It was built 1962 and expanded in 1969 to 46,600 square feet. Another round of renovations and expansion being proposed presently would cost about.

On the plus side, Sawyer could remain in operation while new space is constructed, according to a State of the District Properties Report presented to the Ames School Board in November.

Ground water and roof remain sound in Sawyer, while other aspects need work. The playground equipment needs to be replaced, building to parking lot lighting needs to be evaluated for safety. 

The Sept. 13 ballot question follows below:

Shall the Board of Directors of the Ames Community School District in the County of Story, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip elementary school buildings and improve the sites therefore (including demolition) at the District property on 24^th Street, the current Meeker Elementary site, and District property on Miller Avenue; and to reconstruct, repair, improve, remodel, furnish and equip the Mitchell, Roosevelt and Sawyer elementary buildings and sites? 

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