RSU 52 receives EEI facilities study; district lists roofs, water systems and ventilation among top priorities

RSU 52 administration briefed the board on a comprehensive facilities feasibility study conducted by engineering firm EEI and described an initial plan to address high-priority repairs and replacements across district buildings.

The study catalogued building- and campus-level issues across all six schools, with several items placed at the top of the district's priority list: the Levitt Area High School roof (showing rot and installation problems), multiple aging potable-water holding tanks (some as old as five decades), ventilation and dehumidification work at elementary wings, and a long-running wastewater treatment plant project that has required a bond and an extension because of the project's complexity. The administration also highlighted recurring items such as windows that are drafty or failing, site drainage and parking issues, and spot repairs for flashing and roof penetrations.

The administration said some projects have been completed or partially completed using prior contracts (Siemens phase projects were referenced) and that the district is pursuing a combination of approaches going forward: using reserve funds for near-term emergencies (the wastewater treatment plant and some roof work were cited), putting small recurring amounts into an annual capital set-aside to "pick away" at items such as window replacement, and considering bonding or loans for larger projects.

Med and facilities director Dave Roberts (speaking through the materials) told trustees that some repairs are already in plans for the coming months: dehumidification units and ventilator upgrades at Leeds and Green, lighting upgrades across buildings and prioritization of a subset of the EEI list that the district expects to fund over several fiscal years. The meeting addressed traffic safety improvements as well, including replacement of flashing school-zone lights near Turner Primary School and repainting crosswalks where pedestrian safety was raised by board members.

Costs and trade-offs: the study and the board presentation included rough order-of-magnitude estimates for major projects (for instance, a multi-million-dollar replacement for the high-school roof and a $2.58M estimate cited for a middle-school ventilation replacement). The administration said the board's reserve account and phased budgeting can cover some items without borrowing, while other items will require a loan or bond decision.

Ending: The board did not vote to authorize a specific capital project at the meeting. Administration asked the board to accept the EEI study as a working document and to continue prioritizing projects in the upcoming budget process. Staff said they will return with refined cost estimates and recommended financing strategies for particular projects in the next budget cycle.