The Greene County school board discussed at its Nov. 12 meeting projects to be funded by the physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL) in 2015. Two big ticket items — an 84-passenger bus and new bleachers at the football field — are still on the list, but some items were put “on hold,” freeing up funds for needed work at the baseball field.
The district is entering the second year of the 10-year voter approved PPEL. This year, a portion of the roof at the high school was replaced at a cost of about $200,000, and a suburban was purchased at a cost of about $40,000. The 10-year plan predicts $455,000 in PPEL funds for 2015, with purchases including a bus at a cost of $120,000 and bleachers at a cost of $80,000.
The board was alerted to the need for work at the baseball field at the October meeting. Activities director Dean Lansman and baseball coach Mark Sawhill told the board that compaction of the infield has not only caused drainage problems, but that it has become a safety issue for players. Lansman presented three different remedies as a cost of $30,000, $75,000, or $130,000. The baseball field is not on the original PPEL plan, but Christensen suggested that the needed work be done immediately after the end of the 2015 baseball season.
At last week’s meeting, Christensen suggested three projects that could be delayed: replacing windows on the south side of the high school at a cost of $45,000; HVAC work at the high school at a cost of $20,000; and a keyless entry system at the elementary school at a cost of $20,000. His rationale is that those projects could be covered by a bond issue for new construction to expand those buildings.
The board in September hired Shive-Hattery to prepare preliminary plans for expanding and remodeling the high school to create a 5-12 campus and to add classroom space at the elementary school.
Christensen said last week that Shive-Hattery architects plan to meet with the district’s facilities committee before the end of November. At that time, a subcommittee of the rather large facilities committee will be appointed to meet regularly with architects in developing plans.
PPEL projects still on the list for 2015 include: purchase of a van, $20,000; keyless entry at the high school, $10,000; updating the phone system, $60,000; network rewiring, $35,000; replacing a projector, $10,000; and back-up battery power for the data system, $35,000.
Construction class: In other business, instructor Chuck Wenthold reported that the construction class has nine students for the second trimester. (The class was canceled for the first trimester due to low enrollment.) The students will not build a house, but will learn and practice skills at the Habitat for Humanity project on W. Washington St.
The board also approved paying $11,000 this year (the second year of a three-year lease) to the Jefferson Field House for use of the wrestling facility. The cost was $9,000 last year. Christensen said last year’s cost was based on estimates and that owner Jeff Schroeder documented costs of $11,000. Wrestling coach Mark Sawhill was at the meeting. He said the facility is “OK” for wrestling, and mentioned that wrestlers did not have access to a mat during the summer. Board member Teresa Hagen asked if a new wrestling room will be part of the proposed construction at the high school; she was assured it will be.
