Engineers report south-side settlement at Mary Herbert Education Center; patch-or-replace options range from tens of thousands to more than $1 million

The Emporia Board of Education heard an update from KC Pro that found settlement in the Mary Herbert Education Center, primarily on the building's south side, with measured column drops ranging from about three-quarters of an inch to roughly an inch in places. KC Pro told the board its December 2024 resurvey largely matched December 2023 readings on the north side but showed localized downward movement on the south side and near the center hallway.

The finding matters because the structure is roughly a century old and serves district operations; the report presented two main approaches. One, described in the report as an effort to "stop it from going down further" (the consultant used phrasing including "cost to buy a few more years"), was costed at about $190,000 to $220,000 plus consulting and required engineering. A broader repair program to stabilize, square, and restore finishes was estimated at roughly $950,000 to just over $1 million, not counting unknowns discovered during demolition. The roof over the affected section was separately estimated at $250,000 to $325,000; windows for the south/west corner were budgeted at about $100,000 (roughly $4,000 per window for an estimated 25 windows); doors were estimated at about $105,000; wall demolition and refinish was estimated up to $200,000; and electrical work was budgeted about $50,000.

"I don't believe there's a safety issue from when I took the elevations and evaluated it at that date," Rob Kramer of KC Pro told the board, describing the measured movement and saying his field evaluation indicated the building was safe at the time of the survey. Kramer said he had not inspected stringers, other transverse members or hidden elements and that those unexamined components could be an "x factor" requiring additional work.

KC Pro and district facilities staff attributed much of the movement to regional soil behavior and drought. The consultant explained that expansive clays common in the area shrink during drought, reducing support under load-bearing columns and producing settlement; older buildings are more likely to show such movement. The report noted the elevator area measured about three inches lower than surrounding floors in the affected area but said the team had not been able to examine all subsurface or hidden conditions.

District staff and KC Pro warned of a regulatory cost threshold: if repairs trigger a 40% or greater substantial renovation, the district could be required to bring the building to current fire codes, which would add several hundred thousand dollars to the project cost. Kramer urged the board to schedule engineering promptly; he estimated engineering design would likely start after an approved engineering contract (he cited a typical threshold beginning near $20,000 for engineering work) and that construction activity would likely not begin until months later, with weather making summer the practical start window.

The board did not take formal action on the report; staff said they would work to obtain engineering proposals and additional cost detail before the board is asked to approve funding or construction contracts.