State prison inmates help NCSD reconfigure

As the Newton Community School District reconfigures this summer, not all of its help is coming from staff employees.

Newton Correctional Facility inmates from the minimum-security Correctional Release Center were asked to help with moving wrapped pallets of items as the school district reconfigures and moves many supplies to different campuses. With the Berg, Aurora Heights, Emerson Hough and Woodrow Wilson elementary school buildings each undergoing major transitions in terms of teachers moving to new buildings this summer, some extra help was needed.

Last fall, as detailed plans were being formed for the district to reconfigure, maintenance supervisor Jack Suttek put together a timeline for the minor construction, installations and removals and moving needs to take place. He also outlined how tons of books, paper, pencils, Sharpies and other classroom items will be moved across town.

Suttek enlisted the help of inmates who are the minimum-security level. After contacting the prison, some Newton school staff went with him for an orientation meeting with prison staff, getting trained on the dos and don’ts of having volunteer prison labor in a public setting.

After the school year ended and teachers had packed up their things, maintenance and custodial staff went into classrooms and loaded up materials. Trucks were used to haul plastic-wrapped pallets to their new school destinations.

“It was a good way to get prisoners some work experience, and a safe for us to make those guys feel useful without having to pay for a temp agency,” Suttek said.

All buildings are set to be ready for school by Aug. 1. Emerson Hough, Aurora Heights, Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson will be the four K-4 schools, while Berg Middle School will keep its grades 7-8 wing and take on grades 5-6 in the half formerly known as K-3 Berg Elementary School.

Suttek said Chris Barton of Realm, Inc. has been gracious in allowing the district to use pallets free of charge. When the district did need to purchase material for the moves, Suttek said, an effort was made to shop local, as the district recently spent more than $4,200 with Forbes Office Solutions for moving supplies.

Suttek began discussing his plan at open meetings in October of last year.

“I want to be prepared ahead of time so that we don’t get to May, and say, for example, ‘Oh, we have to rent some trucks, and no one has any,’” Suttek said.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at
641-792-3121 ext. 6532
or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com