A public hearing has been set to discuss a six-figure repair on the Mid-Prairie Middle School foundation. At Monday’s school board meeting, Onesty Friday from Shive-Hattery, the architecture engineering firm hired by the district, presented findings of foundation damage on the northwest side of the building. The damage is where the gym is. The school noticed cracks in the wall and separation between bricks in September 2016. In the following months the separation began to increase in size.

When Shive-Hattery suspected foundation damage they tested the soil outside of the gym. That’s when they found samples of fat clays in the soil. Friday explained that when the ground absorbs moisture it causes the fat clays to expand and regress in size and over time that can weaken the soil, causing the foundation to sink. The recommendation is to install helical screw anchors so the foundation rests on the anchor as opposed to the dirt. The estimated cost of the project is between $180,000-$200,000.

The board voted to have the public hearing to begin receiving construction bids during the March 11th meeting. The goal is to begin construction as soon as students are done with class and the project should be completed by the time school resumes in the fall.