Structural Concerns Forces School Closure

The Minidoka County School Board has closed an elementary school over concerns about the structural integrity of the building.

Pershing Elementary was closed Friday after David Barnett, the structural engineer who inspected the building, reported poor conditions.

In his report, Barnett gave the building a rating of “1.” The report states that a rating of “1” means “… material in poor condition likely to fall or fail in the near future.”

The report states that plaster, which is coated over brick on the outside of the building, is cracked in several places and appears to be separating from the brick.

Barnett did not state in his report that the building should be evacuated, despite the poor rating.