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New buses, computers, repairs to cost up to $40M Thursday, August 10, 2006 By CANDY BROOKS If voters approve a bond issue to fund capital improvements, the money will be spent on new buses, computers, furniture and building repairs. Though the amount that may be requested of voters next November has not been decided, estimates range from $30- to $40-million that is needed to bring the district's property up to an acceptable standard. Superintendent Melissa Conrath decided to encourage the school board to delay placing an operating levy on the ballot this fall in favor of a no-new-taxes bond issue. Part of her reasoning included the dire needs of district facilities. "We have capital assets and I feel it is critical we take care of those," she said. In terms of cost, the biggest need is for improvements to the district's buildings. A facilities study based on a review of capital-improvement work orders estimated the need at $22.6-million. "Just because something breaks doesn't mean we are going to fix it," facilities director Tim Gehring said at a recent board meeting. He has a list of about 600 such things that need to be fixed. Some of the repairs waiting for funding are small. Replacing tiles in staff restrooms at Perry Middle School would cost $2,400. Water-cooler replacements at Liberty Elementary School would be $3,600. Others are more costly. Replacing lockers at Worthington Kilbourne would cost $785,400. Replacing carpet at that school would be $520,000. Each school in the district has several jobs listed on the "to do" list. Replacing computers in all of the schools and buildings would cost approximately $3.7-million, according to technology director Keith Schlarb. Ninety percent of the district's computers were purchased before 2000, and the majority are not capable of running new educational software, he said. Much of the equipment also is considered "vintage," meaning replacement parts are no longer available. The district's bus fleet also is in bad shape, according to transportation director George Sontag. Twenty-eight buses are 15 years old or older, and many have safety issues. "Once again, we're patching them together and keeping them alive, but it's not going to last forever," he said. For $3-million, the district could purchase 40 new buses over five years. Until 2003, the budget included $500,000 a year for replacing furniture and equipment. Now there is a need for $1.5-million over five years to catch up with the need, said Assistant Superintendent Paul Cynkar. Additionally, a bond issue should include about $3-million for emergencies and unanticipated needs, plus funds for inflationary costs, said treasurer Jonathan Boyd. The board likely will take a closer look at capital needs next Monday when discussing the possibility of placing a bond issue on the ballot. |