Cedar Rapids schools closes domes at Taft, Harding due to ‘deterioration’ of support beams

CEDAR RAPIDS — Citing deterioration of several more support beams, the Cedar Rapids school district announced Monday it has closed the domes at Taft and Harding middle schools, displacing students and staff from the buildings’ gyms, cafeterias and performing arts classrooms.

The two middle schools were constructed in 1965 using the same design that features two domes. On Oct. 11, school officials announced the evacuation and closure of Taft’s east dome after an inspection found it was unstable.

Cedar Rapids schools were not in session Monday, and consulting teams that have been working with the district were in the buildings to conduct “additional evaluations,” according to an email sent to district families.

“Today’s investigation revealed additional damage, which was not seen on our visual evaluation underneath the steel supports,” Chad Schumacher, director of operations at CRCSD, said in the email. “In addition, as we move into the winter months, the extra weight of snow and ice on the domes would put more stress on the beams, causing things to shift and move. Knowing this, we are taking precaution in closing all four domes.”

The domes will remain closed until repairs can be made. Raker Rhodes Structural Engineering, one of the companies working with the district, will have a structural repair plan ready to present to the district “as soon as possible,” according to the email.

Taft’s east dome, which has been closed for almost two weeks, houses the school’s cafeteria, kitchen, performing arts classrooms and auditorium. Since its closure, food for Taft students has been prepared at Jefferson High School and West Willow Elementary School and brought to Taft. Band practice has been held in the school’s front lobby.

Taft’s west dome houses its gymnasium, which is also now closed.

The layout at Harding is similar, and the domes’ closure will result in the same spaces being unavailable.

Until the domes can be reopened, the district is working to acquire portable buildings to provide additional classroom space at Taft. At Harding, classrooms will be rearranged to open up space for lunch, performing arts and PE classes.

“Our engineers and architects are developing a comprehensive repair plan for all four of the domes, and we will be working in conjunction with the consulting teams to ensure these repairs are made as swiftly and effectively as possible while maintaining the highest safety standards,” Superintendent Tawana Grover said in a news release. “I want to thank our families and staff for adjusting quickly and for their understanding as we all work together to support our students during this time.”

Harding and Taft are currently the district's largest middle schools, housing 730 and 578 students, respectively.