GENTRY -- A new portable classroom ordered over the summer arrived and was being assembled last week.
The building is a 24-by-64-foot classroom and was delivered in two sections and placed near the current agriculture classroom. The steel building will be anchored down. No plumbing will be placed in the building because of its close proximity to the current agriculture building.
The classroom will be used for a second agriculture classroom to provide additional classes for middle school and high school students. Wendy Jackson was hired as the new teacher who will be assigned to the classroom.
The school purchased the temporary building, according to Jason Barrett, transportation and maintenance director for the school district. The portable steel building is being purchased rather than leased so that the district can use it elsewhere if need be after it is no longer needed for classroom space in the agriculture program.
And, with the planned construction of a new classroom facility at the intermediate school and the demolition of a number of classrooms, the portable building could be needed elsewhere soon.
Randy Barrett, district superintendent, said he didn't know for sure how long the temporary building would be needed at that site. He said the temporary classroom was the school district's only option to provide immediate space for the second agriculture classroom.
A temporary use permit for the building was issued by the Gentry Planning Commission and will be reviewed in four years.
General News on 10/19/2016