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Westlake City Schools lays out $12.2 million five‑year capital plan; prioritizes PAC repairs, bus purchase
Summary
District staff told the board that the permanent improvement (PI) levy yields roughly $1.1 million a year (about $1 million after debt service) but five‑year project needs total about $12.2 million; staff recommended a summer PAC roof/stage resurfacing and plans to bring a recommendation to buy one 78‑passenger bus at the next meeting.
Adam House, director of business affairs for Westlake City Schools, told the board on April 13 that the district’s permanent improvement (PI) fund — the 0.8‑mill levy passed in 2016 — is restricted to capital assets with a useful life of five or more years and cannot be used for day‑to‑day operations. “The total annual revenue of this PI levy is approximately $1.1 million,” House said, and he added that roughly $100,000 of that is committed annually to debt service tied to the elementary school construction through fiscal 2030, leaving about $1 million for other PI expenses.
House presented a FY26 breakdown and a five‑year roadmap (FY26–FY30) that lists about $12.2 million in proposed PI projects, and he warned that recurring revenue will not cover the full list without additional funding. He said the mid‑range peak in 2028 is driven largely by an estimated $1.3 million roof replacement for one building and several sizable interior projects.
Front‑loaded items the administration identified for near‑term work include targeted PAC repairs and stage resurfacing. House recommended a $200,000 allocation to replace a portion of the PAC roof in an area adjacent to the theater to stop recurring leaks and to resurface the stage, whose current melamine surface has developed soft spots after roughly 20 years of use. He described the resurfacing product he researched — a polymer surface marketed as Polyonix — and said crews can remove screwed‑in 4x8 panels without disturbing the substructure, allowing the district to inspect and repair the underlayment before installation. House said the work is planned for completion over the summer.
On transportation, House said he will present a formal recommendation at the next board meeting to purchase one 78‑passenger school bus from Cardinal, citing an available stock vehicle that would be priced at the lower fall‑bid rate and the long lead times for built‑to‑order buses. “I’m going to be submitting a recommendation to purchase one 78‑passenger school bus,” he said, and he noted bus prices have risen substantially compared with earlier purchases. The district’s fleet totals about 45 buses with an estimated 10–12 spares, House said; buying two buses per year would produce a roughly 22‑year replacement cycle at current purchase rates and budgets.
House also summarized recent maintenance equipment purchases — a Bobcat wheel loader used for winter plowing and events, replacement plows and a top dresser for athletic fields — and described a recently finished safety project that added ballistic film to windows in a media‑center prep room following a lockdown drill.
Board members asked about costs, timing and aesthetics for the PAC work and expressed support for prioritizing safety‑critical and high‑visibility repairs. Several members said large, expensive projects such as a full PAC renovation, track returfing or a new press box will likely require a bond or levy beyond the current PI levy; members discussed placing an operating and/or PI item on the 2027 ballot to address the funding gap.
What's next: House will return with the formal bus‑purchase recommendation at the next board meeting and with more detailed cost estimates and renderings for front‑facing projects such as the PAC and proposed digital signage.
