The school has been well maintained, but age and use have nevertheless created a situation in which the building is more expensive to maintain than it would be to replace. Crumbling mortar on the outside of the building continues to open the building to air and water leaks. Plaster walls are cracking and small chunks of plaster fall from the walls in classrooms. Windows need to be replaced with more energy efficient types. The electrical system is inadequate for today’s needs. The building has had problems with termites. The time to replace the building’s heating and air conditioning is nearing. The school was built with wood framing and joists typical of the era rather than metal framing and joists that would be used today, making the building more susceptible to damage from fire. Because of a false ceiling in the building, fire suppression sprinklers would have to be installed both above and below that ceiling.

The proposal calls for a new building of similar size to be built fronting N.W. 39th. To make room for the school, two old buildings – the old Central Middle School cafeteria and the Student Services Building – would be torn down. The old cafeteria was for a number of years used as Campus Police headquarters and food storage, but Campus Police is already in the Putnam City Center and the Food Services Department and its storage area will move there soon. Once Food Services moves into the Putnam City Center, the old, dank Student Services Building will be empty.

Using the land now occupied by these two buildings, a new Central Elementary can be built with little impact on current school grounds. When the new building is complete, teachers and students would move in, and then the old school building would be torn down and additional parking would be added.

Cost: $8.4 million