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BOE wants new class to build press box, batting cage house
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · May 05, 2016
The West Branch Board of Education last week directed School administrators to pursue a new industrial tech course specifically to build two structures in the 15-year facilities plan.
At the April 25th meeting the school board heard that new drawings for additions at the high school and Elementary School brought down the estimated construction costs closer to the $20 million budget. However, the two structures planned for this new class are not part of the central project. They were tentatively scheduled for later phases of the 15-year plan, superintendent Kevin Hatfield said.
First is a pole barn for batting cages and storage to go near the baseball and softball fields. Second is a new press box at the football field.
Hatfield recommended partnering with Kirkwood Community College and the ACE Mentoring Program to bring in experts to oversee the steps from design to construction. “ACE” stands for architecture, construction and engineering. Hatfield said bringing that to West Branch High School for the 2016-2017 school year and at least part of the 2017-2018 school year could get the two structures built.
Current WBHS industrial tech teacher Randy Robertson is qualified and willing to teach the classes, Hatfield said, and interest in his current courses “has nearly doubled in the last two years.”
Board member Mike Owen said he likes the idea, but is concerned about “the appearance from the street” of the building called a “pole barn.”
Board member Jodi Yeggy suggested the board require the design get board approval in advance. Hatfield said he saw a pole barn structure at the Durant High School softball field that left him “pretty impressed.”
Hatfield said he pitched the idea to the president of the West Branch Community School foundation and received support there for the ACE program.
Hatfield said ACE Director Joe Greathouse told him the school’s science, technology, engineering and math curriculum would be an “ideal” contribution to ACE succeeding at WBHS.
“I’d rather have students build a press box than a wing of a school,” board member Keith Schultes said.
Board president Mike Colbert asked if adding to Robertson workload would endanger his part-time status. Robertson had retired from full-time teaching in 2012 and can only work part-time under state rules that affect retirement benefits. Hatfield said Robertson currently works between one-quarter to one-third of full-time, and this would take him to about half time.
Struxture Architect’s Craig Schwerdtfeger, who attended the same meeting to discuss proposed construction projects at WBHS and Hoover Elementary, offered the company’s help.
“We’re proud to … volunteer our time,” he said.
Yeggy said she sees “a lot of positives” from the program.
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