The South Bend Tribune reports that a pair of community groups have issued a joint recommendation calling on the Mishawaka district build a new Hums Elementary School on the existing site.
Architectural firm Fanning Howey provided has worked up preliminary cost estimates: $38.3 million to construct a single-story building and $38.9 million for a two-story project.
The cost of renovating and adding on to the existing building is estimated at $34.4 million.
Besides flooding problems, the school's open concept design results in noisy learning environments, and the building's bathroom facilities are inadequate for the number of students.
The preliminary new construction options have a 500-student capacity similar to other elementary schools in the district. Currently, about 350 students attend Hums.
Mike Kennedy has been writing about education forAmerican School & Universitysince 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.
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