Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears Alloy 5 report: Danville Middle School rated ‘poor,’ district to review finances in September
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Need told the Danville School Board on Aug. 13 that an Alloy 5 facilities assessment rated Danville Middle School “orange” (poor), the building is at about 96% capacity and could need $10–$15 million in repairs; the board agreed to revisit the issue at a September Committee of the Whole meeting where finance staff will present.
Superintendent Dr. Need told the Danville School Board on Aug. 13 that an Alloy 5 facilities assessment gave Danville Middle School an overall “orange” rating — described in the report as poor — and that the building needs significant work within the next one to three years.
The rating and a list of specific concerns prompted the board to schedule a fuller financial review at the September Committee of the Whole, with finance staff member Mister Mavis preparing cost and funding options, Dr. Need said.
Why it matters: the middle school is operating at about 96% of its capacity, Dr. Need said, well above the roughly 80% level typically desired to preserve instructional flexibility. The district faces a set of building repairs and replacements — roof, exterior glazing at the auditorium and band rooms, non‑ADA doorways, boilers and chiller units, plumbing fixtures and classroom unit ventilators — that the superintendent said add up to a multi‑million dollar obligation.
Dr. Need summarized Alloy 5’s findings in the board meeting slideshow and said, “Danville Middle School got an overall orange rating of poor, meaning significant things needed to happen there within the next one to three years.” He noted some immediate repairs have already been completed on the most critical exterior doors.
District staff identified several priorities: roof replacement; replacement of glass panels at the auditorium, main entry and band rooms (Dr. Need cited an approximate demolition and replacement line item of about $400,000 for those glazing elements); replacement or piping work for boilers and the chiller (both about 15 years old and nearing end of life); replacement of aging plumbing fixtures and valves; upgrades to auditorium lighting and sound; and improved secure vestibules at the main office to match other district buildings, the superintendent said.
Board member Dr. Green pressed for a sense of scale and timeline. During that exchange Dr. Need said the estimate for comprehensive work could be “$10 to $15 million with a bunch of unknown costs on top of that,” and that the building’s estimated remaining functional lifespan was about three years unless more substantial work is done. Dr. Need also sought to reassure families: when asked if current conditions posed immediate safety risks, he replied, “No. Absolutely not,” and credited maintenance staff for addressing urgent items.
Next steps: the board agreed to add the middle school condition and options to the September Committee of the Whole agenda. Mister Mavis will present financial scenarios and the district will continue to perform targeted repairs in the near term while staff develop longer‑range proposals. No funding decisions were made at the Aug. 13 meeting.
The board’s planning calendar shows the issue returning for committee review next month; any capital appropriation or bond proposal would require later board action and public notice.
