AmeriCorps seeks larger presence on Braille School campus

A national service program wants to double its presence on the Vinton campus of the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, a request that will go to the state Board of Regents for approval next week.

The request by AmeriCorps for additional leased space on the Braille School campus would result in about $57,000 more in revenue for the school, but most of that will be used to cover additional associated costs, such as custodial support and utilities, said Patrick Clancy, Braille School superintendent and head of the statewide system for vision services.

The plan would expand the annual presence on the school campus from about 240 AmeriCorps members to 480 members, though for most times of the year the number on campus would be much smaller. The expansion is due to a new AmeriCorps agreement with the federal government to provide disaster response and recovery training for corps members, Clancy said. The organization wants additional building and land space for supply storage, vehicle maintenance and storage and corps member residential space and property storage.

"They're wanting more space on campus throughout the year in order to accommodate the times when they have larger numbers here," Clancy said. "It is possible that even more space would be needed in the future."

AmeriCorps has had a regional campus at the Braille School since 2008, when the regents entered into the lease agreement with the U.S. government. AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps is a residential national service program.

The agency wants to lease an additional 2,900 gross square feet in Old Main at the annual rental rate of $4.91 per gross square feet, and an additional 6,700 gross square feet in the Service Building at the annual rental rate of $6.44 per gross square feet.

AmeriCorps also wants to build a surface parking lot along the southern and western borders of campus. The regents will consider the request during a meeting Wednesday in Iowa City.

Braille School staff and programs have done some shifting to accommodate the request, Clancy said, but the impact is minimal and there is sufficient space available since the campus

no longer has a long-term residential program for students.