Chaffee school district begins projects for safe rooms, industrial arts

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Construction of two safe rooms and an industrial arts building has begun for the Chaffee R-II school district.

Funded by a no-tax-increase bond issue in April, construction has been going on within the district since the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

Projects include the safe rooms at the elementary school and industrial arts building at the high school as well as replacing roofs at the high school and elementary school. Both schools also will receive upgraded lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditions systems.

The safe rooms at the elementary school are designed to hold the entire student body and will allow for extra space if the district continues to see growing enrollment, according to administrators.

The rooms will be used for art and music and a hallway to the activity center, assistant principal Shawn Nix said.

"The room will offer protection during storms and withstand F4 winds. This is going to help with the crowding and, once completed, will allow students to stay inside, going to the activity center also," he said.

The industrial arts addition will benefit the school's robotics teams and allow for a computer and welding lab for the program.

Superintendent Ken Lathum said as of last week, all HVAC, roofing renovations and lighting renovations had been completed and new bleachers were added to the high school gymnasium.

Excess funds were used for bleacher replacement, and the district also will replace outdated and inefficient doors.

Jaron McMurry, industrial arts program instructor, said shop additions should be completed by December.