The Board of Education held a Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, July 17th, in the Hendee Rooms. This meeting served as another opportunity for the Board to hear the District Administration’s recommendations as we continue to listen to feedback from the community and reduce the overall asking amount for a possible referendum.
You can listen to the meeting by following this link to our YouTube page.
Superintendent Dr. Ben Collins, CSBO Dr. Adam Parisi, and Director of Facility Management Noel Mendoza used the initial goals from the beginning of the 2024 Proposal process to guide their decisions in developing new recommendations. These facility goals are: 1). Keep our students and staff safe and healthy; 2). Provide world-class learning and teaching environments that meet our academic needs; 3). Operate efficiently from both an energy and financial standpoint; 4). Provide inclusive spaces for students with needs and abilities.
With great respect for our hardworking taxpayers, we have continued to reduce the amount that would be placed on a possible bond referendum. As we continue to listen to feedback from the community, we have created further reductions to the overall ask.
Recommendation 1
- The District proposed using our expected capital improvements budget funds to address items like HVAC, boilers, chillers, and flooring at Emerson, Field, Franklin, Roosevelt, and Washington.
- The Board suggests using $2 million from the 2025 capital improvements funds to address some of the above items, lowering the referendum ask to $96.36 million.
Recommendation 2
- The Board suggests entirely replacing the fluorescent lights with LED lights. There is no reduction.
Recommendation 3
- The District recommended addressing the foundation problems in the Carpenter basement auditorium rather than converting it into a multi-purpose room.
- The Board agreed with the recommendation, resulting in a $807,990 reduction, bringing the referendum ask to $95,552,010.
Recommendation 4
- The District recommended reducing the Emerson music room renovation and cutting the small addition.
- The Board agreed with the recommendation, resulting in a $922,444 reduction, bringing the referendum ask to $94,629,566.
Recommendation 5
- The district recommended using existing playground equipment in good condition, replacing damaged equipment, and installing poured-in-place surfaces. Thus, every building would have an ADA-compliant playground.
- The board will receive more information about the cost of rubber tile surfaces. There will be no reduction here at this time.
Additional Emerson Scenarios
- Option 1
- The Board recommended eliminating furniture replacement, resulting in a $657,600 reduction and bringing the referendum ask to $93,971,966.
- Option 2
- The Board agreed with the District’s recommendation to defer the renovation of the Industrial Arts (CTE) classroom suite, resulting in a $1,587,000 reduction and bringing the referendum ask to $92,384,966.
When the master facilities planning process started, the initial amount provided was $146 million to create the best schools in the state. To be fiscally responsible and still address critical needs, we lowered the amount to $98.36 million and again by about $6 million to $92,384,966.
“These are very tough conversations. We’re making choices with what we think is the best information we have to give us the best probability of passing,” said Board President Dr. Denise Pearl. “I know it’s not easy. I appreciate the candidness, the listening, and just having the back-and-forth dialogue.”
The Board will vote on August 15th at the regular meeting on whether to include a referendum on the November ballot.