USAG YONGSAN, SEOUL — May 6, 2010 — Seoul American Middle School will undergo several renovation and maintenance projects during summer 2010 to address growing concerns over aging and sub-standard facilities.

The plan calls for approximately $600,000 to be spent on major renovations of buildings 3560-3565 — commonly referred to as “huts.” The huts were first built in 1970 and are overdue for both interior and exterior repairs. Earlier in the school year, officials responded to complaints regarding mold in one of the huts. Work orders were promptly completed to address those issues in the fall of 2009.

Additional concerns were raised recently about conditions at Seoul American Middle School. These concerns include sidewalk repairs, mold, pest control, and heating and cooling deficiencies.

The Department of Defense Education Activity is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of schools.  Beyond routine preventative maintenance, DoDEA Pacific regularly reviews facility conditions to assign resources to address prioritized needs.

The current $600,000 renovation and maintenance plan will provide immediate relief to these concerns. DoDEA Pacific officials will coordinate with military officials to develop future strategies to address the needs of all students across the Seoul schools complex

“We are fully committed to being flexible and creative in finding ways to better serve our current students,” said DoDEA Korea District Superintendent Dr. Irby Miller.  “We are focused on solutions that will meet both our current and projected enrollment needs so we can comfortably welcome even more families.”

Solutions will take into account the revised timeline for planned moves from Yongsan to Camp Humphreys as well as identifying and programming resources to adequately maintain existing facilities until the planned moves occur.

“Our students and families deserve good school facilities and we are going to take these concerns head-on,” said DoDEA Pacific Director Diana Ohman. “There is work to be done and we are working with the garrison and IMCOM leadership to make these projects a top priority this summer.”

About DoDEA Pacific:
DoDEA Pacific provides a comprehensive preK-12 education to the children of military and eligible civilian personnel families serving throughout Asia.  The 47 schools in DoDEA Pacific are comprised of approximately 24,000 students and 4,200 professional educators and support staff.  The schools are geographically organized into four districts: Guam, Japan, Korea, and Okinawa.