Students at the Rural Regional Technical Center in LaHarpe likely will spend much of their next semester renovating a house.
The USD 257 school board approved spending up to $100,000 to move a house from its current location near the Bowlus Fine Arts Center, to a spot across from Iola Middle School.
Construction trades students will then get to work, remodeling the house so it can be sold.
Brett Dawson, Neosho County Community College construction trades instructor, presented cost estimates of various repairs he believes the house may need.
Moving the two-story house could lead to some interior damage, Dawson warned. Sheetrock could crack.
The move also could reveal existing damage, such as rotten floor joists or termite damage.
Dawson said the class could remodel the two bathrooms and kitchen, replace the floor in the entryway and build new porches. It’s possible the house could need a new roof, siding and windows.
Students also could build a garage.
Those costs were estimated at about $43,320.
USD 257 maintenance director Aaron Cole obtained estimates of about $32,000 to move the house a few blocks to its new location.
The city will waive fees associated with moving the house and connecting utilities.
The expected costs would come in around $76,320 but board member Tony Leavitt suggested the board cap expenses at $100,000.
“My experience with remodeling says when you get into it, you find things you weren’t anticipating. So I think we need to put a little extra in there,” he suggested. “And I think if we’re going to update it, we need to do a good job.”
The board agreed.
Cole said he asked a local property developer for a sales price. A comparable house sold recently for about $110,000.
