A new intermediate school is in store in American Falls

The new American Falls intermediate school will house third, fourth and fifth graders. Image courtesy of Hutchison Smith Architects.

American Falls School District will build a new intermediate school that is set to open for third, fourth and fifth graders in fall 2019.

The new $8.95 million school will be connected to the gym, cafeteria and music room that serves the existing intermediate school, which is on the other side of these facilities, Superintendent Randy Jensen said.

Portions of the existing intermediate school will continue to serve as the school district office, and other portions will become an adult community learning center. The rest of the building, which previously was the high school, will be demolished, Jensen said.

The 22-classroom new intermediate school will ease overcrowding in the current K-3 elementary school, which will become K-2 when the new school opens.

Jensen expects to open the new, 39,669-square-foot intermediate school with 360 students. The school will have capacity for 440 students.

The size of the planned school was reduced by 14,000 square feet after a $12.5 million bond failed in 2015. Voters approved an $8.95 million bond in May 2017.

“We were building a school based on more intense growth than we may have,” Jensen said.

Hutchison Smith Architects of Boise is the architect. Construction Services of Pocatello is the general contractor. Foundation work is expected to start in fall with construction beginning in spring, he said.

American Falls is in Power County, about 25 miles west of Pocatello.