Carson Middle School improvements considered

Improvements sought for Carson Middle School include upgrading classrooms and structurally joining buildings so the campus would be enclosed.

The Carson City Planning Commission will hear about the plan during today's 3:30 p.m. meeting.

"We've been working on this for a year and a half," said Mike Mitchell, director of operations for the Carson City School District.

Portable classrooms have been used for many years to offset the overflow of students during the years. The campus was built for roughly 600 students but houses double that number.

The portables "are aging, decaying and need to be retired," Mitchell said. "And portables aren't as energy efficient as permanent buildings."

Other major portions of the project will be additional bathrooms and administrative space, and modernizing the campus kitchen.

The three main buildings and much of the new construction will be adjoined. This will be better for the students when the weather is severe and easier for staff to watch over the students. It'll also reduce the amount of noise emitted from the campus, he said.

A $25 million bond measure for improvements throughout the district was approved by voters in November. Work at the West King Street middle school is expected to cost $12 million.

The middle school project could get started within the next couple of weeks if the commission approves it.

Other improvements on the middle school campus include more parking places for staff and visitors, and a new site for buses to stop.

A parking variance still would be required because there is not enough space to add enough parking using current rules. The campus would have 142 spots under the plan proposed. City rules would require 867 spaces.

The school has functioned for decades with the existing parking, according to the planning division.

The campus upgrades could be completed for the 2008-09 school year - if the work runs on schedule.

Impact on students shouldn't be too strong during the next school year, though food service would be moved to the gymnasium, for example.

Carson Middle School is located where the community's high school used to be. The first buildings on the campus were constructed nearly 50 years ago.

The remaining $13 million of bond money would be used to fund projects throughout the district for upgrades and repairs, such as to Carson High School's track, Mitchell said.

• Contact reporter Terri Harber at tharber @nevadaappeal.com or 882-2111, ext. 215.

If you go

WHAT: Carson City Planning Commission

WHEN: 3:30 today

WHERE: Sierra Room, Carson City Community Center

In other business

The Planning Commission will consider recommending a plan to subdivide hangars at the Carson City Airport. The four hangars, approved for construction by the commission in October, would be subdivided into 22 spaces for use by owners of small, private planes.

The project is called Heritage Hangars and people using the spaces will be part of a property owner's association. Units inside the hangars will be 30 feet high, between 44 feet and 75 feet wide and 40 feet to 60 feet deep.