Update on Johnston REC Remodeling Project; New Blog Being Launched

As we told you last month, the Agency selected Ruepke Construction of Derby, Iowa, as the general contractor for the Johnston REC remodeling project. The company was the lowest responsible bidder for the project, submitting a bid of $780,000.

At its October 12 meeting, the Heartland Board of Directors approved a lease purchase agreement (as required by Iowa Code) for the project, which secures funding for the project.

We are happy to report that the next step in the project is the actual construction phase! After many, many months of planning, the project is ready to begin!

To assist us in communicating with our staff during the remodeling project, a blog has been established that will list all pertinent information during remodeling. Please bookmark http://construction.aea11.k12.ia.us/ so you can visit the blog any time to get the latest news during construction. This initial update will be in The Connection and in the construction blog, but all additional updates will only be in the blog.

We will provide major updates on a weekly basis. The following is set to take place during the week of October 25-29. Please remember that all items are subject to change.

• Repairs to the parking lot will be done and all parking spaces will be available.
• The contents of Conference Rooms 9, 11, 12, 13 and 18 and the Computer Lab will be emptied. (The Learning Center will still be available throughout the remodeling project.) Rooms 9 and 18 will come back online as a conference rooms, but Rooms 11, 12 and 13 will be incorporated into the new large classroom.
• The majority of the books in the Children’s & Young Adult Library and the staff who work in that area will be relocated to the Computer Lab and Room 18 for most of the remodeling period.
• Room 8 will be converted into a computer lab with laptops.
• Braillist Teri Hazen will be relocated to the Scanning Center (across from Judy Cleveland’s desk) for the duration of the remodeling project.

Staff members who may be affected by the construction project have the option of using the Remote Workplace Program and working off-site when their work area is affected. Staff members have the option of working from home, the Adel Office, the Neveln Center (a co-location site in Ankeny, Clay Elementary School (a co-location site in Altoona) or Zion Lutheran Church in Des Moines, as determined by coordinating with their supervisor. Also watch the construction blog for a weekly listing of remote workers and their locations.

And as a reminder, always check the Internal Calendar in Kerio before coming to meetings in Johnston to verify the location of your meeting. The Agency will be using Zion Lutheran and St. Mary’s Churches in Des Moines and the Johnston Lion’s Club as well as other off-site meeting locations during the remodeling. If you are the organizer of a meeting, please help by notifying participants of site changes.

Once again, things are always subject to change during a construction project, so please be sure to check the construction blog for any major changes. We are looking forward to a successful project that ultimately improves our services for our families, students and educators!