Four years after controversy rocked the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, the campus is rocking again.

But this time its the banging of hammers, humming of drills and moan of heavy equipment marking the first phase of a $60 million, five-year master plan to expand the school.

The construction demonstrates that we are committed to move forward, said Marc B. Hahn, who arrived in July as the osteopathic medical schools new president and chief executive officer.

In 2009, then-president Karen Pletz was fired over mismanagement and misuse of money, and several top administrators resigned. The university sued Pletz; she countersued. Then a federal grand jury indicted Pletz, alleging she had embezzled more than $1.5 million from the university, engaged in money laundering and falsified tax returns. She committed suicide in November 2011.

A university spokesman said all litigation involving the school and Pletz or her estate has been settled.

The only thing that we can control is what we do now, Hahn said. We have a great story to tell.

Two months ago, work began on the campus at 1750 E. Independence Ave. to convert Weaver Auditorium into an academic center with two big lecture halls and several classrooms and study rooms.

The university is dividing up its auditorium because it needs classrooms more than it needs an auditorium, Hahn said. Its a more responsible use of the space, he said.

The auditorium was built in 2008 to host graduations and was used once or twice a year. It seated 1,500, but graduations drew about 2,200.

It was obsolete on the day it was built, Hahn said.

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Osteopathic medical school is ready to grow again