Sun Prairie facilities chief outlines 2025–2034 capital improvement and maintenance plan

Pete Warwick, director of facilities and grounds for the Sun Prairie Area School District, presented the district—s proposed 2025 through 2034 Capital Improvement and Maintenance Plan during a school board presentation. "This 10 year plan identifies our budget goals and aligns with district priorities," Warwick said, and he added that "by approving this plan we are allowed to use Fund 46 which is a Long Term Capital Improvement Trust Fund."

The plan matters because Fund 46 restricts how long deposits may be removed and limits spending to items listed in an approved long-term plan. Warwick said a school board with an approved long-term capital improvement plan of at least 10 years may establish and fund such a trust and that the district—s Fund 46 was created more than five years ago; after the initial five-year prohibition on withdrawing deposits, funds may only be used for the purposes identified in the approved plan. Warwick told the board the plan—s slides and a situation and recommendation report are included in the board packet.

Warwick walked the board through categories in the plan and the district—s prioritization approach. Asphalt and concrete work covers parking lots and sidewalks and is scheduled using outside consultant assessments. Athletic infrastructure projects include bleachers, gym floors, tracks, tennis courts and playgrounds; Warwick said the district is in a five-year playground project that aims to upgrade or add equipment and poured-in-place surfacing "specifically geared towards students with disabilities," with a stated goal of improving two playgrounds per year. Token Springs and Eastside received new playground equipment last year; Westside and C. H. Byrd were scheduled for upgrades in the current year.

The building envelope category includes roofs, windows, doors and walls; Warwick said there are many roof replacement projects on the list and that the district consults outside parties to prioritize projects and obtain bids. Flooring and painting work are allocated by zones based on administrators— input during building rounding. Warwick described HVAC replacement as among the most expensive capital items after roofing; the facilities team monitors systems and recommends replacement before failure when possible, though he noted emergencies or supply-chain issues can shift the schedule.

Safety and security projects in the plan include public-address systems, keyed access, security cameras, door access systems and lighting. Other capital funds are earmarked for administrator requests and curriculum delivery enhancements identified during rounding visits. Custodial and grounds equipment purchases, a district vehicle rotation and a shift to leasing were described; Warwick said the district began leasing vehicles in January and currently has six leased vehicles, a strategy he called "more cost effective and sustainable."

Warwick highlighted pool maintenance as a priority and said the plan includes resurfacing the pool shell at East High School. He said the estimated cost for that resurfacing will be funded from Fund 10 restricted fund balance money collected from pool rentals and swim passes. Warwick cautioned that "emergencies and supply chain issues also affect the integrity of the plan" and that while adjustments to timing may be necessary, the overall budget allocation would remain the same.

Warwick closed by directing board members to the situation and recommendation report in the board packet and offering his contact information for follow-up questions; specific contact details were not stated in the presentation.