Linn-Mar moves forward on $2 million addition to Westfield

MARION - The Linn-Mar school district moved forward this week on plans to build a $2 million, six-classroom addition at Westfield Elementary School. The addition would increase the westside school's enrollment capacity by 100-125 students to equal 600 in total.

School board members voted Monday to contract with OPN Architects to update documents originally prepared in 2011 and proceed with plans to carry the project through bidding and construction phases.

Original plans were for an 8,500-square-foot, one-story addition with six classrooms, resource/reading rooms, restrooms and mechanical spaces. One classroom also would be remodeled into a technology classroom.

Depending on bidding and construction dates, the addition could be ready for use at the start of the 2017-18 school year.

The school board also voted Monday to contract with Novak Design Group to meet with Linn-Mar staff to design and carry through on a proposed project to remodel Excelsior Middle School's main entrance and administrative offices. That project could be completed by next fall.

Linn-Mar administrators, facing increasing space demands throughout the district, also are looking at providing more cafeteria space at Oak Ridge Middle School.