Ten Sleep considers constructing vocational building

TEN SLEEP – During the Ten Sleep school board meeting Monday evening Ten Sleep School Superintendent Jimmy Phelps proposed the building of a vocational building on the northern half of the lots the school purchased in 2017.

Phelps explained to the board that just because the building of the new school has been put on hold, building the vocational building could still occur and he would like to approach architects to come to the board with their proposals. He explained that the school has around $1 million in the depreciation reserve account which could be used for the vocational building. He stated that hopefully he would be able to bring some proposals back to the board as early as their next meeting.

After explaining his thoughts about the parameters of the building, he asked the board for any additional ideas they might have, if they decided to move forward. “The parameters that I have in mind for this is that the vocational building would have two classrooms, male and female restrooms, shop areas for wood working/ construction/welding and then a kind of an engine repairs/ basic mechanic work type thing,” Phelps said. He added that an adequate dust collection system would also be needed for the building.

Phelps said that Schools Facilities Department Regional Project Manager John Rexus, explained to him that the vocational building, not counting equipment, just the building itself would cost about $200 per square foot and that the money in the reserve would cover a building of about 5,000 square feet, which is about the square footage Phelps had in mind. “That doesn’t include equipment, we have a lot of equipment we can move into it,” Phelps said.

The board, after a brief discussion with two members absent, unanimously voted to have Phelps contact architects for proposals.