Ames School District Begins Repair on Building that Would Have Been Replaced

Ames Community Schools come up with a new plan to update, repair and even renovate new buildings in the district, but the school district is still working to maintain the buildings in the meantime.

School staff began a major mold abatement this week at , one of the buildings that would have been replaced by a new school had voters approved the $65 million bond .

School board member said the mold removal is a two part process. Employees are working to repair construction issues that have led to a moisture intrusion and they are also using products to eradicate the mold in the building.

Gerry Peters, Ames Community Schools director of facilities planning and management, told board members earlier this week that water has been flowing toward the building in the alcoves because the stoop slabs were slanted inward. Contractors would basically add a stoop up in a reconstruction project.

“Mold cannot live without moisture,” Peters said.

Mold was also discovered in two portable units put in place at and Fellows elementary schools to make room for an unusually high number of kindergarteners. The problem was corrected in three days and vocal music programs are now being taught in each unit, Superintendent Tim Taylor said. The company that sold the portables agreed to pay for the repairs.

Taylor said buildings like Fellows Elementary School might one day be reconstructed but they have to make sure the buildings are clean and safe until that time.