EPCS Board okays $14 million facilities improvements project

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Published: Tuesday, 30 September 2014 01:58

By Karen Clem Fritz

The Eastern Pulaski Community School Board voted its approval Monday evening to proceed with an estimated $14 million school facilities improvement project, which might begin as early as spring 2015, and will encompass improvements to learning environments, infrastructure, and safety at the three school facilities – and result in little impact on the tax levy.

The action came following a public hearing on the proposed project which featured presentations from Gilbraltar Design of Indianapolis on the scope of the project, and Curt Pletcher of Umbaugh and Associates of Mishawaka on the financial impact.

Only two persons spoke at the public hearing, Cyndi Garnett, representing the leadership team of Braun Corporation (Braun Ability), and Anthony Pesaresi, speaking on his own behalf and for Winamac Coil Spring. Both expressed their support of the project. About 20 people attended the hearing, mostly school administrators, project presenters and media.

“With 1,200 employees worldwide, we want to voice our support for this project,” Mrs. Garnett said. “It will be good for the community and critical for our businesses.”

Pesaresi added that the technology and safety issues were of special interest to him. “We want to throw in our support of the project. It’s very competitive out there, and anything the school can do  will be welcome assistance – especially at a near-zero tax increase.”

Superintendent Dan Foster noted the project had its beginnings a year ago and the school board has completed a lot of work and attended many meetings to reach this point. After a walking tour of the facilities last year, the school board commissioned a study to identify a list of needs in order to determine what facility improvements should be considered. Many of the needs have been based on safety issues.

“The total project bond issue and the work to be completed did require some tough decisions based on priority of providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students,” school board president Joe Cunningham said.

It was noted the school corporation did not pursue needed facility improvements in the past five years due to the tougher economic conditions. But, Cunningham pointed out, the school board is obligated to consider the learning environment needs and opportunities provided to our school children in the community.

“All of us as taxpayers have enjoyed the benefit of nearly 20 years of no bond issue tax increase,” Cunningham said. “The current project proposed maintains a no-tax-increase position, based on average rate over the past five years.”

Foster noted that while the project has now been approved, final details remain to be worked out. A probable timetable will be to award bids in late December with some work to begin in Spring 2015, major projects to be undertaken in the summer and project completion in 2016.

Of the $14 million project total, about $4 million will be completed at the elementary school and $9.9 million at the middle/high school. Pletcher of the Umbaugh firm explained the school corporation has one outstanding debt service obligation which ends in 2015. The new project will be funded through another bond issue, to be repaid in 20 years. He added the historic debt service rates in recent years for Fulton and Pulaski counties has been about 25 cents (on $100 of assessed valuation). Right now it is about 14 cents. The new project will result in about an 11-cent increase – or about an $18,07 annual impact on a home value of $75,000, a $53.66 impact on a home value of $125,000, or $2.24 impact on an acre of farm ground.

No construction of new buildings or additions are included in the proposed project.

Rusty Nichols of Gibraltar Design said that among the safety issues to be addressed in the project will be the entrance areas of all three schools which now provide direct access to classroom hallways.  When the project is complete, the entrances will be configured so visitors to the schools must pass through the offices before gaining access to the hallways.

Projects at the elementary school will include replacing windows, wall finishes, carpets and ceilings. Restrooms will be rennovated, and the mechanical and electrical systems improved. The gym floor will also be replaced.

At the middle/high school, classrooms will also undergo a rehab/replacement of wall finishes, ceilings, carpets, electrical outlets, and a switch to more energy-efficient lighting. Science classrooms at both the middle and high school will be updated. Restrooms will also be rennovated. The gym will receive a new floor and a new heating/cooling system.

The socialtorium will also be updated with a new HVAC system, new lighting, ADA accessability and expanded restrooms.

The mechanical and electrical systems throughout the middle/high school building will be improved or replaced. The lighting and fire alarm systems will also be replaced with more efficient products.

"The total project bond issue and the work to be completed did require some tough decisions, based on priority of providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students," Cunningham said. He encouraged the public to ask questions about the project. "We're here to listen," he said.