HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work continues on schedule for the $2 million addition to Faris Elementary School in Hutchinson.
Bob Williams, director of support services for the district, briefed the USD 308 school board on progress for the facility. The improvements include an 8,900-square-foot addition that extends the building to the east on the north side of the existing structure and include improvements to the existing cafeteria, a new gymnasium, additional classroom spaces, two restrooms and office and storage areas.
The project is on time and under budget at this point.
The board awarded the contract to Hutchinson’s Wiens & Co., which was the lowest bidder at $2,010,500. Bids came in about $500,000 less than architectural estimates for the project. Capital outlay funds are paying for the project.
Improvements at Faris during the 2006 bond issue approved by voters added space to the facility, but created additional challenges. The school received enough classrooms to have two sections of each grade and all-day kindergarten as well as a new library. The bond issue, however, did not include an addition to the school’s cafeteria/gym, leaving it undersized for the number of students who attend the school. The bond issue also did not include needed small spaces for support personnel who work one-on-one with students.