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Banks SD 13 work session: Board signals consensus to add auxiliary-gym "team rooms" while bond budget remains healthy
Summary
District project managers reported demolition is complete and the bond program remains financially healthy; the board signaled informal consensus to proceed with a $400,000 cold‑shell option for auxiliary-gym team rooms while continuing to pursue CTE upgrades and grant funding.
Stacy, introduced during the meeting as a representative of the district's management group, told the Banks SD 13 board at a work session that demolition of the old barn and parts of the district office is complete and that contractors are preparing for concrete demolition pending a release from Clean Water Services. "As you guys probably drove in and saw, the the barn is gone," Stacy said, summarizing recent site progress.
The presentation outlined the bond-funded program: a new two‑story high school addition to house classrooms, a library and administrative offices; reuse of the north wing during construction; historical-salvage efforts for the mural and woodwork; bus-turnaround and cafeteria/auditorium improvements. Stacy presented high-level budget figures and contingency tracking, saying the program started with about $58,000,002.24 and that interest earnings and adjustments had the bond near $59 million. Program contingencies across projects were reported at about $4,707,000 (approximately 8.1%), with a stated goal of keeping contingency above 5%.
A central policy decision centered on auxiliary-gym "team rooms" and storage lost when the barn was removed. The project team presented two options: a cold‑shell build now (cited at roughly $400,000) that would leave interior finishes and mechanicals for later, or delaying the work and risking much higher retrofit costs. The contractor present said the cold‑shell avoids tearing off newly installed exterior work later and estimated that waiting could substantially raise costs. "If we don't do it now... it's probably gonna be at least $1,000,000," one board member said, urging action to save taxpayer dollars over time.
Board members also discussed competing priorities such as CTE upgrades, the cafeteria stage and theater improvements. Staff noted the district would pursue a CDE revitalization grant but cautioned that awards are uncertain; staff also described county excise tax receipts as a potential, but variable, future revenue source. "We will be pursuing it, but no guarantees," a district staff member said of the CDE grant, and staff illustrated the excise tax with an example that at the current $1.57-per-square-foot residential rate a steady build could yield meaningful capital dollars over time.
After extended discussion about timing and value engineering, the board did not take a formal vote but the chair and several members confirmed an informal consensus to direct staff to proceed toward including the team‑room cold‑shell scope in near-term work, while continuing efforts on CTE priorities and grant pursuits. Staff said the item can be placed on next month's regular meeting agenda as a formal action item if members prefer and that construction-site tours and further budget updates will be part of future work sessions. "If you're at consensus now and you feel you can give us direction, you've already authorized us," a district staff member told the board.
Next steps: staff will continue contract finalization and contingency tracking, bring refined budget details and design drawings back to the board, and — at members' request — put the expanded scope on a future regular agenda for formal authorization if desired.
