The month-long asbestos abatement phase, part of the $5.7 million Perry Middle School renovation project, is nearly done, with extensive renovations of the 62-year-old building soon to follow.
The sixth, seventh and eighth graders vacated the PMS April 23 in order to make way for the asbestos abaters, and they relocated for the final month of school in the new PHS multipurpose room and various other empty spaces in the high school, including the auditorium, middle school cafeteria and Brady library.
The contract for the 2021 Perry Middle School renovation project did not attract any bids from general contractors in the February letting, and the legality of the mid-March letting was challenged, but the the Perry School Board finally approved a $5.7 million construction contract April 21 with Urbandale-based Ball Team Construction LLC for the project.
The Perry Middle School was built in 1959 and originally housed the Perry High School, which had previously stood on Willis Avenue at 10th Street. The current Perry High School was built in 2000.
