District Searching For Long-Term Solution To SOAR Building

Crawford County R-1 is seeking a long-term solution after various issues at the SOAR (Student Opportunity for Academic Recovery) building.

The building is located on Starhawk Drive, across the elementary school. 

It houses high school students in an alternative setting. There are currently 17 students there and the program is growing.

The district bought the building more than 20 years ago and last made repairs in 2015.

Doug King, who is the head of maintenance at Bourbon, said there are issues with the flooring. A shed has fallen down that needs to be removed. The garage door has been framed in, and moisture seeps in through the exposed old door.

“We need to decide how far we want to go with this,” King said.

Superintendent Cole Byassee said if they start tearing into the building, it could get even more expensive.

Byassee said they have talked about renting out a store in downtown Bourbon until they find a long-term solution.

They also could find a modular building and place it at the high school.

Byassee said he feels that would be the best location in the future.

CCR-1 Board President Marty de la Torre said there are no other spaces. Byassee agreed, saying that space is at a premium.

“The (current) building is not conducive to the number of students we have,” Byassee said. “That program is not shrinking.”