Board reviews updated 10‑year capital maintenance plan and project proposals including HVAC, roof, LED field lights and $250,000 Northside playground

The Milton School District finance committee presented an updated 10‑year capital maintenance plan on Jan. 26 and outlined proposed FY26–27 projects across funds 10, 46 and 80 totaling approximately $1,659,000. Steven (presenting the plan) described priority projects that include replacing aging rooftop air handlers and adding air conditioning to Milton East and West cafeterias and gyms, continuing the district’s conversion from pneumatic to direct digital controls (DDC) at Northside, flooring replacements and lighting/painting work at the middle school, and a roof retrofit and rooftop‑unit replacements at the high school.

The plan also designates future eligibility for a proposed health‑care sciences lab and the district maintenance facility under fund 46, should the board later approve those projects for fund‑46 expenditure.

District parks work was discussed: phase 1 would retrofit existing field lighting at Schoberg Park by replacing only fixture “tops” with LED units to match other recent installations; staff said phases 2 and 3 would follow and estimated about $300,000 per subsequent phase. The presenter noted that using existing poles and controls reduces cost compared with new construction.

A separate vehicle and equipment replacement plan proposes a replacement skid loader and a mower for district maintenance with an estimated budget just under $49,000 (including trade‑ins).

Northside playground replacement was discussed as a distinct project: the existing 1993 equipment is well past a typical ~20‑year useful life and, while not described as immediately unsafe, has reached a point where patching reduces available play components. The proposed budget for full replacement is $250,000, covering equipment, installation and wood‑fiber surfacing. The playground manufacturer confirmed an order timeline that would allow installation in June if the board approves the project at the Feb. 9 meeting; staff proposed funding the replacement with unspent Fund 10 budgeted dollars. The new playground design includes 31 ADA‑accessible stations and additional accessible swings.

Board members asked about phasing, cost comparisons to prior soccer-field LED projects and summer‑school impacts; presenters said summer scheduling and existing expansion areas should allow installation in the June window and that phases were planned to balance budget tolerability and practicality. The capital items and the playground replacement will return to the board for formal approval on Feb. 9.

If approved, the projects advance the district’s multi‑year facilities plan to replace end‑of‑life components, add air conditioning to older buildings and improve accessibility on playgrounds.