From 40 to 7

RANDOLPH – The Randolph Public School Board narrowed a list of facility update priorities from a master list of more than 40 items to seven.

The broad 40-plus list came from input from staff and a walk through with the school’s architect partner to help the board come up with a facilities plan for future needs.

Superintendent Daryl Schrunk said the 10-year facility plan will help with budgeting for maintenance and updates just as his five-year technology plan sets aside money each year for future technology needs.

However, looking over the list, the board’s building and grounds committee determined some of the facility needs can’t wait.

Asbestos abatement - which would have to be completed prior to any improvements at Randolph Elementary - will be the focus of a special board meeting set for 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 18. The only action expected is a vote on that issue.

At its last meeting, the board discussed the abatement in the elementary’s ceiling. At that time, it was estimated the work would cost $250,000 and the work would take about 10 weeks.

“The level of concern for asbestos seems to gets bigger every year,” board member Lucas Miller said Monday night. “It used to be you could easily paint over it. The longer you leave it there, the more requirements are adding up for what you have to do to meet that abatement criteria.”

Jim Scott, board vice president, said there are only a few companies who do asbestos abatement and he worries putting it off will only cost more.

The other priorities identified by the building and grounds committee include a new vocational building to house the ag and art programs; air conditioning and fans added to the main high school gym; replace the HVAC system at the elementary; replace windows throughout the elementary building; replace elementary lighting with LED; reconfigure the main entrance at the elementary; and add electrical outlets to elementary classrooms.

The need for a new vocational ag and art building has been an ongoing need.

The board started levying monies into the special building fund in 2021 to potentially build a new Vocational Agriculture building that would also house the art program, and the special building fund currently stands at $1.3 million.

Built in the late 1960s, the two existing Ag buildings total 7,900 square feet and were not built to house the current equipment being used. Having two separate buildings is not ideal for safety and it limits the number of students in those courses, according to previous board discussions.

Fakler Architects developed the original plans for a new building but the board tabled any action on continuing with the project in March 2022 due to rising construction costs. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, the price skyrocketed, Schrunk said.

Board facility priorities highlighted

- Asbestos abatement (elementary) - New vocational building (high school) - Air conditioning and fans in the main gym (high school) - Replace HVAC (elementary) - Replace windows (elementary) - Replace lighting (elementary) - Reconfigure main entrance (elementary) - Add electrical outlets to classrooms (elementary) The board discussed gym air conditioning may not rise to the level of a priority, however, with HVAC units already 30 years old and needing replaced, it may make sense.

“If you were going to have to change heating and cooling systems, that would be the time to add it,” said Board President Paul Schmit.

Miller said he would like to see additional bathrooms for the elementary make the top list of priorities. Currently, there is only a girls restroom on the first floor and only a boys restroom on the second floor.

The board has not reviewed dollar amounts for any of the items. Once those are received, it may shift priorities.

“Until you get to looking at a dollar amount, can we bite off all these things in the yellow, that would be kind of nice, or do we get that sticker shock and pull back,” Miller said.

Tobin Buchanan, managing director of First National Capital Markets, presented several different financing options to complete school improvement projects to the board at the Feb. 26 meeting including lease purchase for new construction; Qualified Capital Purchase Undertaking Fund (QCPUF) bonds for renovations to existing facilities; or a bond issue which could be for new construction or renovations.

Using a purchase lease or QCPUF would only require approval by the board while a bond issue would require approval by a majority of voters residing in the district.

Randolph Public Schools currently has one of the lowest tax levies in the area at 41 cents, while nearby Wayne, Winside, Wausa, and Pierce public school tax levies come in at more than double.

The board may decide to use money in the special building fund to tackle some of other needs such as structural damage around the chimney at the high school, while the highlighted priorities put forth in a bond issue.

But first, the board will put together a steering committee to gather input. Board members will be suggesting two to three people each to form the committee.

The committee and board would then engage the community through town hall meetings to discuss potential projects and the financial impact, as well as gauge support.

If it is decided to go ahead with a bond issue, a special election would be called potentially this fall.

“We have beautiful facilities. We have a lot of great things going on,” Schrunk said. “We just want to make sure we’re keeping up on it just like you would your house.”

The two-hour board meeting was well attended and included discussion and action on many other topics including: - Approval to purchase a new minivan to replace one with 180,000 miles. Funds for the purchase will be used from the depreciation fund and the new van may be ready in about three months.

- Discussion on projected Junior High sports participation for next year. Currently, there are 18 students, six boys and 12 girls in seventh grade, and 11 current sixthgraders (incoming seventh-graders), six boys and five girls.

Although students indicated they intend to participate, due to small class sizes, there may be a need to co-op with another school for Junior High football. Additional discussion will take place at future board meetings.

- Recognition of both the elemetary and high schools designated as Heart Safe by Project Adam led by Children’s Hospital. As part of the program, the Randolph Public Schools received an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device which will be stored in the high school ag building. There are AEDs in each school building and both schools participated in additional training and drills to become a Heart Safe School.

- A presentation by Jack Moles, executive director of Nebraska Rural and Community Schools Association (NRCSA), which included an update on the organization, advocacy efforts on behalf of Randolph Public Schools, and a recap of school-related legislation. Cardinal Cam, the school’s industrial tech student business, crafted custom bottle openers for the upcoming NRCSA conference.