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Facilities update: high school courtyard work, turf fields, seclusion rooms; finance committee discusses on-site fuel tank
Summary
Board reports showed progress on high school construction, baseball/softball turf delivery, installation of safe/seclusion rooms, and space preparations for Heartland AEA. Finance committee discussed a planned on-site fuel tank at Moss Barn (16,000 gallons) and estimated a roughly 4–5 year payback from fuel and staffing savings.
Board members received updates Sept. 8 on ongoing facilities projects and transportation planning.
Construction at the high school continues: concrete work was under way in the courtyard, facade installation along the academic wing is progressing, and site cleanup and dirt work continue. District staff said ball seeding around the new build is targeted for about Sept. 15.
Demolition on the baseball and softball fields is complete and turf has been ordered; staff expect turf delivery by mid-October and plan to install it this fall. Work that requires outdoor permitting will resume in spring 2026. District staff reported earlier lighting concerns on the turf were resolved as controllable through the lighting design.
Facilities staff said safe and seclusion rooms have been added in Emerson, Irving and Whittier, completing installation of such rooms in all district buildings. The district has prepared the old administrative office for external partners: Heartland AEA is expected to begin occupying office space around Oct. 1, and a local childcare program will receive dedicated office space later this fall; staff clarified children will not move into the former administrative offices, only partner office operations.
On the finance committee update, board members heard from transportation and farm-service representatives about a planned on-site fueling station at the Moss Barn to replace a closed municipal fueling site. Committee members described a dual-walled, 16,000-gallon tank with roughly 10,000 gallons for diesel and 6,000 gallons for gasoline. The committee estimated combined annual savings of about $48,000 in fuel costs plus $10,000 to $15,000 in staffing savings, producing a projected payback of approximately four to five years. District staff said a temporary tank and punch-pad fueling are being installed while the final electrical and permanent fueling hardware are completed.
The finance committee also discussed implementing purchase cards for staff who routinely purchase district supplies to reduce reimbursements and streamline procurement. Committee members said policy and controls are being developed before cards are issued.
Board members suggested exploring lighting for tennis courts during phase 2 of the high school project if the opportunity arises. No formal board action on the fuel station or tennis lighting was taken at the Sept. 8 meeting; both were discussed at committee level and will return to the board for future action if required.
