Highland School Board to interview contractors tonight

Tonight, the Highland School Board will interview several contractors who, if selected, will complete a number of health life safety projects over the next several years.

On Tuesday of last week, the School Board discussed a five-year facilities plan during a special meeting held at the administrative center.

The board, on Dec. 21, is expected to finalize the plan and discuss its funding mechanisms.

“It’s a plan in progress,” Superintendent Mike Sutton said on Thursday of last week. “It will be a one-year plan with four years of crystal ball thinking.”

Jeff Williams, director of building and grounds, said the plan will provide the district with a “sustainable path to keep the district’s facilities, up-to-date, attractive, efficient and inviting.”

“The five-year plan is designed to be a living breathing document fluid and reactive as changes arise,” he said. “These adjustments might be necessary due to changing code requirements, student body size, curricular and extra curricular offerings.”

The board is considering a number of building improvements it plans to make, starting next summer.

It is proposing to spend:

▪ $3.94 million at Highland High School;

▪ $2.98 million at Highland Middle School;

▪ $206,999 at the Lindenthal campus;

▪ $1.23 million at Highland Elementary School;

▪ $312,000 at Highland Primary School;

▪ $351,139 at Alhambra Primary;

▪ $125,000 at Grantfork Elementary; and

▪ $1.09 million at the administrative center.

Sutton said the district plans to apply for low- to no-interest rate bonds to pay for the bulk of the projects through the Qualified School Construction Bond program (QSCB).

Last month, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) approved the guidelines and application process for the QSCB during its regular business meeting. ISBE expects to be able to distribute more than $495 million in bonding authority to school districts.

“If we are able to get interest free bonds, that will save the taxpayers money,” Sutton said.

The district is also considering using life health safety amendments and its Operation and Maintenance fund. The Operations and Maintenance Fund had a $531,036 balance as of June 30, according to the district’s recently completed audit. The School Board has pledged $200,000 of its O&M money to make repairs to the HHS tennis courts.

Among the health life safety projects the district will undertake next summer include replacing the tracks at HHS and HMS.

They are also planning to:

▪ Replace the unit ventilators with new ones at the HHS. (Estimated cost $420,000.)

▪ Replace the roof top units with new ones at HHS. (Estimated cost $747,000.)

▪ Replace the HVAC controls at HHS. (Estimated cost $144,000.)

▪ Install a new generator with sub-base tank at HHS. (Estimated cost $80,000.)

▪ Replace windows with insulated aluminum windows and tempered glass at HHS. (Estimated cost $78,504.)

▪ Replace counter tops an case work at HHS. (Estimated cost $1000,000.)

▪ Replace exterior lighting with L.E.D. fixtures at HMS. (Estimated cost $44,600.)

▪ Tuck-point and seal masonry walls at Highland Elementary. (Estimated cost $225,000.)

▪ Replace the HVAC at Highland Primary. (Estimated cost $152,000.)

▪ Abate VAT flooring and provide new VCT flooring at Alhambra Primary. (Estimated cost $128,800.)

▪ Replace the roof top units to the Alhambra Primary. (Estimated cost $125,000.)

Williams said his staff will be able to do some of the projects internally, saving the district “quite a bit of money.”

“But the performance contractor will perform the lion’s share of the work,” he said.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 2:00 AM with the headline "Highland School Board to interview contractors tonight."