The USD 379 Board of Education held a special meeting on December 1st to discuss the upcoming bond issue. The Board voted to pursue Bond Option A or the “maintenance bond,” which is a $10.250 bond over 15 years, rather than a consolidation option.
The latter would have included an addition to Lincoln School and reconfiguration of what grades are at Garfield and Lincoln locations for $11.8 million over 20 years.
The Board voted unanimously to pursue the bond via public election.
The Board received public feedback, including responses via survey. Top public priorities included: safety and security, ADA improvements, HVAC/roofing improvements, and maintaining existing buildings. In total, 450 people responded, including 273 from Clay Center, 44 from Wakefield, 120 from other towns in the County, and 13 outside the District. Of those, 131 were USD 379 staff, 268 were parents or grandparents, 257 were community members, and 63 were retired.
Throughout the December 1st Special School Board meeting, the Board discussed which items would be included in the $10.250 million maintenance bond. The list of improvements includes all District schools, as well as the Bus Barn and District Office.
Superintendent Brett Nelson said what items the Board chooses will greatly affect the capital outlay budget for the next decade.
Board members weighed many options, including what maintenance could be afforded by the annual outlay budget, vs. those that are too expensive, like repairs to the CCCMS roof, which is estimated to cost $994,000 and the CCCHS gym and bleachers, at $593,000 and $402,000, respectively. While one more sanding can be done with the gym floor, an engineer reported issues with the floor’s supports for the next decade.
Upgrades/Repairs by School:
Lincoln Elementary: (preschool-3rd grade; 331 students, 62 staff members): secure entry, fire alarm and other security updates; playground updates and turf; ADA chair lift; exterior envelope improvements
Garfield Elementary: (4th-5th grades; 176 students, 20 staff members): secure entry and other security updates; ADA chair lift; playground updates and turf; exterior envelope improvements
CCCMS: (6th-8th grades; 241 students; 29 staff members): secure entry and other security updates; roofing; new bus drop off lane; parking lot re-pavement; exterior envelope
CCCHS: (9th-12th grades; 313 students; 45 staff members): secure entry and other security updates; roofing; gym floor and bleachers; parking lot upgrades; exterior envelop improvements; district gym upgrades; parking lot expansion
Wakefield: (K-12; 220 students, 20 staff members): secure entry and other security updates; exterior envelope; ADA chair lift; playground updates, tunnel plumbing demo and upgrades
District Office: exterior improvements and roof; grade and paving
There was discussion about foregoing the district gym parking lot and implement LED lighting, which School Board President, Tracy Claeys said would pay for itself in just over four years, by expanding the lifespan of lightbulbs and lengthening the budget.
There was also discussion about ADA upgrades, such as chair lifts and whether they were needed for access to upper floors, rather than just basements, which serve as a storm shelter.
Principal architect with HTK, Maria Kutina said additional items can be completed with the funds, so long as the original scope is done. Capital outlay funds can also be used during bond-funded repairs.
Four companies applied to serve as the district’s construction manager, including Simpson Construction Services, out of Wichita, Nabholz out of Lenexa, BHS Construction, Inc. out of Manhattan, and Kendall Construction out of Topeka.
The Board discussed questions to ask the companies during an interview process, which will take place January 5th, along with tours of the schools. They voted 6-1 to interview all four companies, with Board Member David Jermark against.
Kutina suggested 35-minute sessions with each, including a 20-minute presentation and 15-minute Q&A.
