Preparing for the wrecking ball

Jason E. Silvers/Tribune photo A worker with RII Concrete Construction of Fort Scott prepares to haul off debris removed from the old Juco wing of Fort Scott High School on Thursday. Actual demolition of the three-story structure is scheduled to begin Monday.

Progress is being made on school bond projects that will soon give different looks to Fort Scott High School and Frary Field.

Work to prepare the school's old three-story Juco wing for demolition, which began this week, continues, with plans to start actual demolition work on Monday, district officials said. The projects are part of the $40.8 million school bond issue approved by voters in November to make district-wide improvements.

USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said Thursday construction crews have opened each floor of the building on the west side to drop "soft materials" out and haul them off.

"They're taking ceilings and ceiling grids, any cabinets still built in," Beckham said. "Basically anything that is still combustible inside. We hope to have that finished today or early next week. The big equipment will arrive Monday and soon thereafter they will start knocking the actual structure down."

Beckham estimated demolition work, clearing of debris and work following the demolition should take a few weeks to complete.

"It will take a couple weeks to push it in and haul if off," he said. "They have to raise the ground and there's dirt work and such after demolition. In a few weeks, the building proper will be down. There's site work to do before school starts. The main work should be done through late July."

Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe is the construction manager for the school bond projects and is navigating the construction process for the district as well as helping the district seek bids with subcontractors in order to obtain the best bid.

Last month, the USD 234 Board of Education approved work related to the next project at the high school, which will involve demolition of the Juco wing as well as reconfiguration and remodeling of three classrooms in a separate section of the high school as a result of teachers who will be displaced after the building is torn down.