Builder tells district schools are showing age

The Alpine school board heard a report on the state of portions of the physical plant at their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, July 25.

Del Ware, who has been hired by the Marfa district to build a new gymnasium, volunteered to do a mini-assessment of the Alpine properties and report his findings to the board.

However, Superintendent Mike Davis told the Avalanche Monday, the district has contracted with a different firm to perform a complete assessment, and expects a full report in the next month or two.

Ware told the board last week that the high school building "has deteriorated considerably" since its construction in 1972.

He said the district is paying in maintenance and cosmetic renovations what it could be using to build a new facility.

"I'm not attempting to talk you into anything," said Ware, who added that roofing and related systems - such as gutters - are causing problems at all three Alpine campuses.

"Every building you have needs to be addressed," he said. "Off the cuff, the high school building has 10 years, five good."

The board approved tax appraisal values as presented. The district expects a total taxable value of more than $296 million this year, up more than $22 million from 2006.

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Builder tells district schools are showing age

The Alpine school board heard a report on the state of portions of the physical plant at their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, July 25.

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Special to the Avalanche