Board commits $1.5 million for capital projects

(Conceptual drawing submitted by Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates) This proposed remodel of the Spencer High School front entryway-which stands to make it handicap accesible, increase parking and replace windows- was one of 31 capital projects totaling $1.5 million aapproved Monday by Spencer school board members. As approved, this approximately $250,000 project would occur during fiscal year 2010.

Spencer school board members committed $1.5 million in physical plant and equipment levy (PPEL), city and state sales tax revenues for 31 capital projects over fiscal year 2009, which ends June 30, and fiscal year 2010 Monday night.

As Superintendent Greg Ebeling noted Spencer is one of a few districts in the state to have city sales tax revenues to draw funding from, he also indicated the district took out an approximately $2.4 million loan against this specific source of funding to pay for the Energy Service Group facility improvements it has undertaken districtwide over the last few years. These ESG projects are nearing completion, Ebeling added.

The board was then presented with a laundry list of potential facility projects prioritized by board members Ed Ver Steeg and David Schlichtemeier along with input received from district maintenance staff.

Among the items ranked as top priorities, and carrying an estimated $794,569 price tag, were: Lincoln drainage and driveway; the old Spencer Middle School (SMS) first floor bathrooms, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, flooring and remodel; the Spencer High School (SHS) roofing on the 1963 addition over the Field House; the bathroom and kitchen remodel in the self-contained special education room in the SHS Tech Ed building; the SHS transportation entry door; replacement of the SHS southeast entry door; replacement of the SHS Tech Ed radiant heat equipment; a Lincoln music room roof repair; the Lincoln front door and kitchen outside door replacement; the Johnson library carpet and drywall replacement; a Fairview bathroom tile replacement; a SMS duct cleaning in the gym and wood shop areas; a SMS wood shop air cleaning; a SMS repair of the front entry concrete; districtwide tuck pointing; and districtwide parking lot patching.

Ranked as No. 2 priorities, and carrying an estimated $606,300 price, were: Repaving the Lincoln parking lot; remodeling the SHS entry; and replacing the Fairview front outside doors.

Ranked as No. 3 priorities, and carrying an estimated $106,552 price tag, were the: SMS well and sprinkler system establishment; central office northeast door replacement; SHS library carpet repair; SHS shower improvements; SHS football fence extensions; SHS football field landscaping; Lincoln outside door replacement on the Buettner classroom; central office front concrete improvements to the sidewalk and drainage; districtwide carpeting and painting; and a five-year commitment to fund lighting at the soccer field.

When asked by board member Barb Van Wyk if he felt it wise to tackle funding for all the third-level priority projects proposed during this and next school year, Ebeling replied he would be comfortable with all three of the fund balances as they're currently projected. As board discussion continued, it was mentioned that several of the projects listed, specifically those ranked as No. 3 priorities, could wait. Ebeling, however, mentioned they would remain on the district's list of items needing to be addressed no matter what.

Ver Steeg mentioned the current economy should help the school district because bids should be competitive because potential contractors are looking for work.

"It will be competitive this year regardless if it's a $3,000 or a $300,000 project," the board member said.

In the wake of recent budget and staff reductions, it was also mentioned that projects such as these 31 are paid for from a different funding stream than district staff are.

In its first action taken last night, the board unanimously approved a $7,000 per-year for five-year commitment to establish lighting on the new soccer field. The district's $35,000 commitment would be combined with similar commitments, which have yet to be secured, from Iowa Lakes Community College and Spencer Municipal Utilities. The Northwest Iowa Youth Soccer Alliance has already raised $30,000 for the soccer field lighting project.

Board members then authorized the spending of district PPEL, city and state sales tax revenues for all of the aforementioned listed capital projects.

During the portion of the meeting board members overviewed the approaching superintendent evaluation process, they learned that they'll be grading Ebeling for the first time on a new standards-based evaluation tool for superintendents approved by state legislators. A similar process has already been enacted in the district for teachers, principals and Assistant Superintendent Kathy Elliott.

The next regular board meeting was scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 30.