Welcome to the Mason City Community Schools construction news page for the 7-12 complex. We will post updates on the project as new information arises. We will also answer questions and post selected questions and answers by the public on this page as well. To ask a question, send an email to us at constructionquestion@mason-city.k12.ia.us with the subject of "Construction Project Question/Comment" or simply click the button below.

05/19/2011 - Construction Update - Starting Monday, May 23 or Tuesday, May 24 preparation of the ground for JAMS 8 (the annex building) in front of the football stadium will start.  The furthest north parking bay for student parking will be blocked off.  This will remain blocked off until the delivery and set-up of the 2 annex buildings are complete.  The first building/section should arrive by semi on June 6.  Extensive site prep work is involved and the district and construction team ask that if you are around this area to please be alert and careful.

05/04/2011 - Construction Photo Updates - Much work has been done on the renovation and construction at John Adams Middle School and the Mason City High School. Photos of the project and work being done are taken continually. Click on one of the links below to view a slide presentation to see the progress being done and come back and visit often to see updates. The plan would be to add a weekly update of photos. If you have any questions, please click on the "contact us" button above to send an e-mail to us with your "Construction Project Question/Comment."

The Board of Education voted on Dec. 21 to adopt a construction plan that allows students to remain in their current schools and classrooms through the end of the 2010-11 school year. Students will not be moved this school year.

This allows the board and staff to look at the best options for where students will be moved for the 2011-12 school year. The desire is to have the least amount of moving for students and staff with the least amount of disruption for learning.

The first part of the this JAMS/MCHS renovation project that will be most visible to students and staff will be the remodeling of the cafeteria, which is shared by both schools.

Most of the early work in this project will be happening first at JAMS.

The kitchen will close beginning Dec. 23, 2010 until the project is finished.

Beginning with the second semester, all food will be prepared at Harding, Hoover and Roosevelt elementary schools and delivered each day to JAMS and MCHS.

Students at JAMS will eat lunch in the gym.

Students at MCHS will continue to eat lunch in their cafeteria.

All students at JAMS and MCHS will continue to have the option of having a hot lunch every day. Some food selections for the high school students may be fewer than what students are used to.

Next fall, for the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, students and staff at JAMS will be relocated to an alternate site while the building is closed to the public. This allows the construction to be done at the entire school without noise and disruption to students in their classrooms. Click here for further information regarding the relocation of students and staff for the 2011-12 and the 2012-13 school years.

The details of where students will be moved in the fall is currently being planned and will be done with thoughtfulness to what is best for the students so they experience the least amount of stress and disruption as possible.

As we all know, remodeling old buildings can be time consuming and at times frustrating. However, the end goal is that we will have a campus for grades 7-12 that provides a safe, comfortable learning environment that has modern heating and cooling, energy efficient buildings, a tornado safe room and more learning space that can be enjoyed by our community for many years to come. We thank you for your patience and invite you to ask questions as the project moves forward.