Facility to soon reopen for Ballman Elementary students and staff

Ballman Elementary School students and staff should return to their own school by the end of October, Fort Smith Public School board of education members were told during Monday’s board meeting.

Max Middleton with C.R. Crawford Construction, said during a construction update that over the summer, the company did a lot of asbestos abatement and demolition, tearing out ceilings, removing light fixtures and completely putting in a new HVAC system into the building as part of the indoor air quality project at Ballman.

“At this point, we have begun moving furniture back into the classrooms. The work that is still pending is auditorium gas furnaces to be installed. We have received approval on that as of Friday and are proceeding with this work,” Middleton said.

He said the goal is for Ballman students, faculty and staff to be back on site by mid to late October, as soon as teachers can get their classrooms set up, and for completion of the entire project, including the auditorium, to be completed by early to mid November. He said completing the auditorium can be done while school is in session at the facility.

“We have worked in many districts where there are students on site. I mean we’re working at Kimmons right now. I think the school district’s idea is that we will be secluded in one area, the auditorium. Ideally, we’ll be out of classrooms, cafeteria and hallways, places where students will be impacted,” Middleton said.

The construction work at Ballman Elementary School began in April with a completion date originally slated for Aug. 15. Just before the start of the school year, the school district announced that 245 Ballman Elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade and 50 staff members from Ballman would begin the school year at Fairview Elementary School when they return to the classroom Aug. 14. Ballman pre-kindergarten students have been relocated to Tilles Elementary School, while construction is completed.

“This year, a construction project forced the Ballman Bears to join the Fairview Falcons in an interim nest,” said Ballman Principal Nancy Burris. “The temporary home provided us with a learning opportunity to soar with other students and staff. I think the staff and students did an exceptional job of flexing and rising to that challenge. … I am incredibly grateful to my staff, teachers, and the Fairview administration and staff for their warm hospitality and tireless accommodation.”

The $2.55 million HVAC project impacts approximately 60,000 square feet of classroom space at Ballman. The Fort Smith School District received about $52.2 million to spend on projects related to the pandemic, from the Elementary Secondary School Relief 2 Fund and the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Relief Fund. The district designated about $14.6 million to improve air quality, including replacing HVAC systems at many of the district’s campuses.

The Ballman project includes five rooftop units, three of which are dedicated outside air units. The Kimmons Middle School project, which includes a 7,000-square-feet- addition onto the existing cafeteria, is expected to be completed in March, Middleton said.

“Our goal is to have the slab poured this week and erecting steel next week,” Middleton said.

He said C.R. Crawford Construction did a security upgrade at the main entrance of the middle school over the summer and completed an indoor air quality project at the school that involved swapping out existing rooftop HVAC units for new ones.

Kelly Wilson with Beshears Construction told board members that the 12,000 square foot addition to Morrison Elementary School that will give the school 10 additional classrooms is on track for completion “sometime in the spring of next year.” Robert Wiggins with Nabholz Construction Service told the board that preparations are underway for installation of packaged rooftop units that should begin being delivered for Northside High School in November. Once those units are delivered and installed, the indoor air quality project at Northside should be complete, he said.