Board reviews 2023–28 capital improvement plan; prioritizes high-school air handlers, security assessment and bus replacements

Facilities staff presented the fiscal-year 2023–28 capital improvement plan (CIP) to the school board, outlining near-term projects at the district’s elementary, middle and high schools and identifying items that may be coordinated with the city or funded by grants.

Mister Neff, a school facilities staff member, opened the presentation by describing the CIP as “a fluid road map to navigate major projects throughout the school year,” and said staff would include the current fiscal year in the five-year projection to align with the city’s requests.

High priority projects: Neff said the district has selected a vendor and issued an RFP for replacement of the high school outdoor-air units at a cost of $1,102,000. He said these units condition 100% outdoor air, improve indoor air quality and control humidity. “We have selected a vendor to do the outdoor air unit projects at the high school for a cost of a million 102,000,” Neff said. Staff said an inspector determined middle-school outdoor-air units could be deferred for roughly two years while the high-school work proceeds.

Security and communications: Staff reported ongoing coordination with the city on a security assessment. “The City Manager has been asked by the governing body to do an assessment of the school security features,” Neff said; the city’s assessment will include communications, vestibule and window improvements and may identify funding sources. Neff and other staff said better communications at the elementary campus — including cellular boosts and improved PA/public-address systems — are under consideration and could be prioritized earlier in the CIP depending on city coordination and grant opportunities.

Transportation and fleet: Bus replacements remain a multi-year priority. Neff said the district ordered two replacement buses last January but delivery was delayed from June to August and then to December; staff said they plan to replace two to three buses per year going forward. Transportation staff also requested higher-resolution on-bus cameras for incident review and training and improved bus-lot lighting.

Facilities, safety and deferred maintenance: Other projects discussed included replacement of lockers in the boys’ high-school locker room to improve capacity; resurfacing of the secondary campus asphalt (last known full resurfacing in 2006); replacement of stage curtains and pulley systems following a prior curtain incident at the middle school; carpeting replacements across buildings; repairs to the middle-school roof (staff reported multiple recent leak repairs) and condition assessments of HVAC components.

Playgrounds, access and community use: Neff noted a recently completed fence around Cougar Elementary that improved playground safety but has sustained damage within weeks of installation. Board members suggested coordination with the city and grant opportunities to fund playground equipment that improves accessibility for people with disabilities; staff noted a $50,000 placeholder for MPE playground equipment that may be adjusted.

Other long-term items: Staff presented future concepts such as portable learning cottages to expand nontraditional programming and potential auxiliary-gym construction to relieve practice and storage constraints. Mr. Forrest (high-school staff) said portable cottages could host evening adult-ed or nontraditional pathways and could free classroom space if sited appropriately. Board members and staff noted parking constraints at the secondary campus and discussed options including converting practice-field areas to parking.

Timing and next steps: Neff said the plan is flexible and some CIP items may be addressed through city funding or grant opportunities. Staff noted a public hearing on the CIP in November and anticipated putting the CIP on the board’s December agenda for final consideration. No final construction contracts or binding funding commitments were approved at this meeting.

Board discussion included questions about lifecycle planning and recordkeeping for past projects, the timing of preventative maintenance for HVAC condensate/drain lines, and whether to accelerate communications upgrades at the elementary campus because of instructional and safety concerns.