Stanley-Boyd will soon have a new, more secure entrance, as well as a relocated district office.
The project, originating in feedback received during the gym referendum and approved by the Stanley-Boyd School Board following community feedback Monday night, will cost approximately $2.897 million in all, paid for with Fund 46 Capital Improvement dollars. The project includes a new enclosed entrance ramp, relocated high school and district offices, conference rooms, and district office workspaces.
Motion to approve the project by Hoeft was made by Chad Verbeten and seconded by Bob Geist, all but two board members voting in favor, the no votes cost based.
Prior to voting the school board heard from members of the public.
“I would like to see it go through,” Sally Carlson said of the project, noting a ramp open to the elements was a hazard. “I worked with a few construction companies back in the day in Eau Claire. When the bids are this close, they understand the plans.”
“I would back you on this on safety,” Kim Goettl told the board of project.
“Why so many windows in the design of the concourse?” Steve Pilgrim asked of the entryway. The answer, it was made known, had to do with openness.
“I think they wanted it to look light and welcoming,” district superintendent Jeff Koenig said, “as opposed to, I don’t want to say bunkerish but that concrete look. It’s a really good question. I kept questioning everything they put into the designs on the cost of it. I was told at the end of the day it costs about the same as having a solid wall there.” Windows were more efficient than bricks.
As for the initial cost of $2 million, it came from a communication issue where the architects had focused on the office space as opposed to the enclosed entrance ramp.
“I had a conversation with the architect last week,” Koenig said. “He said the reason it was $2 million or less was that it was just the office area.”
The fund balance in Fund 46 also came up, with board member Toni Seidl asking what the fund balance was, receiving an answer of $5.3 to $5.5 million.
The project will use over half of this, causing some unease. But while other districts had facility issues, Stanley-Boyd was in comparative good shape.
“The one thing I can say is that our facilities are in good shape and that’s not something a lot of school districts can say.”
The project meanwhile includes a $190,000 contingency, with an upcoming parking lot project estimated at $750,000, making some board members nervous.
Putting the office portion of the project off meanwhile would save $450,000 up front, but add an extra 50 percent when the board decided to do it, leading to board sentiment that putting off the office would be fiscally irresponsible.
With more back and forth between board and public, the district office relocation and new secure entrance was approved with Fund 46 savings, not affecting the levy.
“Much to my dismay I will vote yes,” Verbeten said, noting that he had initially been against due to cost but reconsidered after considering the cost of replacing the ramp concrete on an exposed ramp, as well as pool window maintenance.
The project will now move forward.
“It won’t get cheaper,” Dave Jankoski said in support of the project.