Committee lists $7.8M in school facility upgrades

Repairs, upgrades and replacements in Oswego School District buildings and other facilities could cost nearly $8 million, school district board members were advised this past week.

A list of prioritized projects prepared by members of the district's Citizens Advisory Facility and Planning Committee was submitted to the board for discussion.

The total cost for all the projects was estimated at $7.8 million by Mike Barr, director of facility construction and development; Bill Baumann, director of operations; and Pat Dacy, assistant director of facility construction and development. They conducted an evaluation of all property in the district, which was submitted to the committee for review and recommendation.

The school district operates a total of 22 schools.

The three officials toured each building and met with the administrators and building engineers at each school, to survey conditions.

They also received assistance from engineers, architects, and contractors in preparing a list of major needs and concerns for each building.

Officials said the district has $7.2 million in funds remaining from past construction projects.

They include projects from 2007 through 2013 that came in under budget, and a balance from bonds sold for the recently completed additions to the district's two high schools.

Superintendent Dr. Matthew Wendt said he and other staff members reviewed the committee's recommendations and trimmed the list to 13 projects with an anticipated cost of $3.6 million.

Board member Greg O'Neil said he was opposed to using the remaining funds from the high school addition projects for repairs to other facilities.

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Committee lists $7.8M in school facility upgrades