Amherst Schools
Board views potential capital projects
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Standing water on district roofs and broken concrete on school parking lots were among many of the slideshow images Amherst Board of Education members viewed at the Feb. 27 board meeting.

The PowerPoint slideshow, presented by board Vice President David A. Stocking, showed possible capital construction work at various district buildings.

The board is considering a $16.5 million capital construction project and needs to approve the plan at its March 20 meeting in order to place it on the May 15 election ballot.

Out of the district's four buildings, the high school was allocated the most money for the proposed project ($5.6 million), followed by Windermere Boulevard Elementary ($5.3 million), the middle school ($4.3 million) and Smallwood Drive Elementary ($1.2 million).

Besides a $2.4 million kitchen/cafeteria expansion at Windermere, roof replacement at the high school, middle school and Windermere are main priorities. Stocking showed several pictures of standing pools of water on the high school and middle school roofs and patches applied in many areas to stop leakages. In a photo of Windermere's roof, standing water has resulted in moss and plant growth.

Stocking said standing water on the roofs has also led to many damaged ceiling tiles. A photo from inside the middle school showed several stained ceiling tiles and screwed in replacements.

Stocking said once the roof is replaced at the high school, it will make repairing the auditorium's walls and chandeliers much easier.

New parking lots are also said to be needed at the high school, Windermere and Smallwood. A photo of the high school's Berryman Drive parking lot showed broken concrete that resembled a spider web.

Stocking's presentation indicated that Windermere's parking lots and sidewalk ramps need a serious overhaul. One image showed a gap between the sidewalk and the curb, which Stocking said is a safety hazard.

One item not listed for approval at the high school is a new pool.

Days before the board meeting, board President William T. Blanford spoke with district resident Amy Moore, who told him parents are wondering why a new pool is not in the proposed plan.

"I told her that we would be taking on additional debt, as our architect has said a new pool would cost between $6 and $8 million," said Blanford. "Plus I think we have a nice collaborative effort with Sweet Home (Amherst swim teams have all home meets there) … She understood where I was coming from but said if the question was if the district could provide space, they would consider assisting with the funding."

Blanford left the issue open for the board to discuss.

The proposed capital projects will not cost district taxpayers much money. A retiring bond this year, combined with EXCEL (Expanding our Children's Education and Learning) aid make up $10.7 million of the $16.5 million. An additional $6 million will raise the tax levy 1 percent in 2008-09.

Mark Whyle, the district's director of administrative services, said he would like to create a capital reserve fund because there is a gap between this year's bond and a bond in 08-09.

"We're raising money this year for all of the bonds, but we're going to raise as much money the year after," said Whyle. "There's a little amount of money paid from the levy that would keep the stream smooth. The idea is instead of waiting until 08-09, we could raise a little money to make that bond smaller."

If the board approves, the reserve fund would need voter approval in May.

In other matters:

+ Suzanne Franzek, Brittany Horvath and Harrison Singer of the Superintendent's Student Task Force asked the board to consider putting a senior lounge in the high school.

Franzek, the task force's president, said a senior lounge would give students a place other than the library or cafeteria to do their homework or relax. Franzek said students would fundraise to help pay for the cost of the lounge. The Task Force will work with high school Principal JoAnn Balazs on exploring possible locations and put together a written request to the board.

+ The American Music Conference selected Amherst as one of the nation's best school districts for music education, and it is included on this year's list of "Best 100." For more information, visit www.amc-music.org.

+ Blanford said the Amherst Education Association will be opening teacher negotiations for the 2007-08 school year.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com