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Board details LeGrande project, capacity planning and major equipment purchases
Summary
Administrators reported LeGrande on budget at about $10 million and outlined capital needs across schools (egress work at Nottingham, HVAC replacements, a new commercial mower ~ $100k, trucks and security cameras), noting the district is considering a 2027 referendum to fund large projects and expects some state aid.
District and facilities leaders updated the board on major capital projects and near‑term equipment needs, and described how funding and physical capacity will affect enrollment placements next school year.
Facilities committee chair Dr. Kolkowsky said the LeGrande School project is on budget at about $10,000,000 and that the district is making incremental moves (including shifting pre‑K classrooms to LeGrande). He said some sites (School 1, Nottingham) cannot be expanded because they lie in a flood zone and that certain fire‑code egress work at Nottingham and door‑widening projects at Nettingham are required to meet capacity rules; Nottingham egress and door modifications carry multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar estimates.
Business administrator Christopher Jones outlined the referendum packages: LeGrande (executed), package 1 (electrical work at Brunner/McGinn/Evergreen underway), and package 2 (major electrical work scheduled next summer). Jones confirmed bids for some work came in under budget and that stateaid assumptions (roughly 30% for certain projects) inform whether the district would pursue a one‑year bond with minimal tax impact; he said a 2027 referendum remains a possibility for larger capital needs.
Capital purchases listed included a commercial mower (replacement ~ $100,000; prior purchase in 2016 was $62,000), two fleet trucks (~$79,000 each), security cameras for the middle and high school courtyards, new gym and projector equipment for graduation overflow, and a new gym curtain for Nettingham. Jones explained that replacing the mower spreads cost at an estimated $10,000 per year versus recurring large repair bills.
Superintendent Dr. Mass and board members emphasized that space and enrollment pressures may require reassigning students if enrollment grows faster than capacity, and they reiterated that kindergarten placement policy states late registrants are not guaranteed a seat. The district said capacity reporting results will come out in August and will inform precise placement options for next school year.
The board discussed procurement rules, use of cooperative purchasing to reduce costs, and the tradeoffs between immediate repairs and longer‑term capital replacement in the five‑ to 10‑year facilities plan.
