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District outlines vision for high‑school upgrades; abatement and major costs flagged
Summary
District leaders presented a long‑range high‑school facilities vision and warned that asbestos abatement, flooring replacement and other renovations could carry seven‑figure price tags.
District leaders used the Oct. 9 Safety & Operations meeting to review a list of high‑school capital ideas and the tradeoffs required to fund them.
Dr. Fuller described a vision for the high school—s first floor that would improve security and student access: "I'd like to think about the vestibule and I'd like to think about the way space is used from essentially this wall... to the wall on the other side of the main office," he said, describing a locking vestibule for visitor screening and converting administrative space to more student‑facing use and flexible meeting rooms.
Operations staff presented cost and scope issues that accompany those visions. Fabrizio said removing lockers earlier this year uncovered asbestos in the floor adhesive and that an abatement process requiring mechanical containment could run "north of a million dollars just for the abatement," with new flooring then adding roughly $500,000 or more. He warned the abatement would be a heavy logistical lift because furniture and other items must be moved before work begins.
The committee discussed prioritization and funding. Members noted the district paid an outside firm (AEM in 2018) for a capital plan and said they need updated audited fund balances before approving new capital expenditures. Chair emphasized matching long‑term money with long‑term projects and suggested prioritizing safety‑critical items (for example, the $5,200 ramp replacement was identified as a fast‑track safety project) while evaluating larger bond or package options for extensive renovations.
Staff also raised smaller, targeted items: replacing worn auditorium seating, addressing backstage sight lines, improving acoustics and replacing an aging bell/PA control unit. On the PA, staff estimated a full replacement could be in the tens of thousands of dollars: "We're talking about tens of thousands of dollars, probably 50 to $60,000 to replace this," Fabrizio said. The committee asked staff to assemble phased cost estimates and a timeline for October and November board presentations.
