The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will decide between now and a June hearing on the issuance of bonds to finance capital projects how to proceed with the estimated $5.5 million in updates to the three buildings.
A scant few people attended last night’s public meeting to further explain the proposed scope of work and how it would be funded. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin notes the estimate of $5.5 million is preliminary, as the corporation has yet to receive bids for any of the work. She adds the work will not affect property taxes, as it can be done within the corporation’s existing debt service. Zupin also stresses no decisions have been made and says additional public input is welcome.
N.J.-S.P. Project Executive Bill Payne from Fanning-Howey Architects says minimum improvements are being made at the elementary school building since its future is uncertain at this time. Proposed projects there include sidewalk repairs and greater security at the building’s entrance. Those projects carry an estimated cost of just under $92,000.
Classes are not meeting in the middle school building at this time, but the corporation is still looking at projects there to prepare it for any necessary future use. They include increasing security at the entrance, replacing the restroom partitions, cleaning the ductwork if necessary, replacing the boiler and possibly upgrading the temperature control system. Payne notes the latter two will result in energy savings for the corporation.
The most extensive work is planned at the high school, which is where 7th through 12th grade classes are currently taking place. Roof repairs, tuckpointing of exterior brick, restroom partitions, new carpet, modernizing the main staircase to comply with current building codes and a new welding hood are all on the list.
So are duct cleaning, if necessary, along with temperature control and HVAC updates, a new backup generator, motion detector lighting, upgrades from fluorescent to LED lighting systems and a replacement water heater.
The interior project list also includes $345,000 worth of optional updates to the swimming pool.
Several exterior projects are also planned on the N.J.-S.P. campus. They include additional sidewalk repairs, a new pressbox and dugouts for the baseball and softball fields, a new roof for the football locker room and the optional replacement of tennis courts.
Eliminating the optional projects from the scope of work would save the corporation about $1 million. However, Payne notes repurposing the swimming pool area will cost between $650 and $850,000.
The board can pay off the bonds for the work in seven years and still have some borrowing capacity should another need arise. However, no decisions on how to proceed have been made at this time.
