McPherson board pauses roundhouse floor work after repeated flooding; orders drainage analysis

The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education voted 6-0 to pause further repairs to the McPherson High School roundhouse floor until the district receives additional engineering analysis and cost estimates.

Superintendent Dr. Shiloh Vincent told the board the district had already removed the damaged subfloor and begun leveling work but halted ordering hardwood and related materials after a second rain event allowed water to re-enter the space. "We have proceeded with the topographic survey and the drainage analysis," Vincent said, and presented an $11,004.50 engineering proposal for the topographic survey, drainage analysis and civil construction documents from Kaw Valley Engineers and Inside Design Studios.

The board’s decision follows engineers’ initial findings that the detention pond behind the roundhouse is undersized for the recent storm volumes, that siltation likely reduced capacity, and that the existing pump system may not be operating at sufficient capacity. Dwayne Cash of Inside Design Studios said the work will assess pump capacity and detention capacity, and that preliminary recommendations include dredging the pond and reviewing pump type and power requirements.

Cash told the board an estimated 1,000 cubic yards of soil may need removal to expand capacity and that a rough placeholder number of $10,000 had been discussed, but he cautioned that that figure was “off the hip” and could change once design drawings and subsurface conditions are known. Cash said costs can rise substantially if the embankment or pump station needs reconstruction or if import/export of soils is required.

Board members also discussed interim options to restore student access to the gym. Presenters described a potential temporary gym floor that could be purchased used for roughly $40,000–$70,000 or rented for $5,000–$10,000 per month; the board was told those figures were initial estimates and that staff would return with firm quotes. The district also discussed the option of a removable court system that could later be relocated to a future facility.

Board members pressed for clarity on whether the district should continue the concrete leveling step now. Administrators said concrete had been scheduled but that the board’s direction was to pause all roundhouse floor work until the board received drainage mitigation recommendations and clearer cost estimates. That pause was the subject of a motion at the meeting; the board approved the motion 6-0.

Direct next steps the board identified include: completing the Kaw Valley/IDS topographic survey and drainage analysis, coordinating with the city and prior engineering firms that studied local drainage, and returning to the board with detailed cost estimates for pond deepening, pump options (including slower, higher-volume auger-style pumps), raising select door thresholds, and firm pricing on temporary flooring options. Cash said the engineering drawings should be closer to completion by the end of the month and that construction would likely not begin before October if remediation is required and bid publicly.

The board and staff noted further unknowns: potential disaster-relief funding, whether flood insurance will be available or cost-effective, and the interaction of site-wide solutions that could be required for larger, community-wide drainage problems. Multiple board members asked administrators to collect written answers to questions in advance of any special meeting so the board could act with detailed information.

Before adjourning discussion the board confirmed an operational mitigation step: the high school administration has redirected student traffic and closed off the roundhouse area; classrooms and athletics access have been relocated while the building remains under evaluation.

The board’s motion to pause repairs said: "Pause all repairs to the roundhouse floor until updates can be provided to the board." The motion was seconded and carried, 6-0.