Modular Buildings Ready for Cedar Rapids Community School District
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DES MOINES, Iowa, August 21, 2008 -- A ribbon cutting ceremony today officially confirmed that the Cedar Rapids Community School District is ready for the new school year despite serious damage to five district facilities caused by the June flooding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, has completed the installation of 35 modular buildings which will serve as temporary facilities for the school district's central service offices. The temporary facilities were placed at a site selected by the school district, north of Kingston Field. About 130 staff who had been reporting to work temporarily at Jefferson High School will be assigned to the new offices. No jobs were lost because of the flooding. The Federal Emergency Management Agency tasked its federal partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to provide the school district a temporary facility. The Corps procured and constructed the modular buildings for $3.7 million. The project was funded 75 percent by the FEMA and ten percent by the State of Iowa. FEMA helps state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations recover from a declared disaster. In some cases, it provides help for needs such as critical public facilities, debris operations, infrastructure assessment, commodities (including water), urban search and rescue, temporary housing, and temporary roofing. The Cedar Rapids Community School Districts central offices are critical public facilities. The temporary buildings, which will also be used for conference rooms, computer equipment, and storage, are equipped to meet the heating and cooling needs of the Cedar Rapids climate and comply with industry standards and local building codes. The Cedar Rapids Community School District will provide furniture, and wiring for communication needs. Classes start for all 33 District schools Aug. 26. |