Hoover Expansion Plans

From the Waterloo Courier (June 11, 2013):

WATERLOO, Iowa — Initial plans for a Hoover Middle School renovation project that include a kitchen and commons addition were approved by the Board of Education Monday.

Waterloo Community Schools officials are seeking bids on the project, which has an estimated price tag of $5.2 million. It will be funded with district revenues from the 1 percent statewide sales tax.

Superintendent Gary Norris said the centerpiece of the project is a new cafeteria and kitchen north of the existing auditorium. The exterior wall will extend to a doorway off the parking lot that will become the school’s new main entryway. New office space near the entrance will connect to the school’s existing offices.

“What we’re doing is enlarging these big common areas that hold a lot of kids,” said Norris. He noted that Hoover earlier completed remodeling of new band, orchestra and choir spaces. “It brings Hoover’s cafeteria in line with the other middle school cafeterias — because it’s really, really tight now.”

The present cafeteria space will be renovated into restrooms and additional classrooms. Remodeling will also be done upstairs near the current main entry to add another set of stairs and an elevator where a classroom now stands.

Work will also be done on the parking lot to improve traffic flow.

Once a contract is approved, construction would begin on the exterior work this fall. Contractors would continuing working inside the new space during the winter. Internal remodeling would take place next summer with the project completed by fall 2014.