Sean C. Morgan
School District 55 has approximately $2.8 million left in bond projects.
The district is working on numerous projects paid for by an $18.6 million bond approved by voters in May 2001.
Total, the district will have received about $1.1 million in interest, and Linn-Benton Community College has paid the district $500,000 for the construction of the new Sweet Home Center at Sweet Home High School.
Total, the district will complete approximately $20.2 million in projects.
Among the projects, the high school project is nearly complete. The district has only $208,000 left to pay on the project. All combined, including the new gem, the pool improvements and the reconstruction of the high school, the project was estimated at $12.8 million. The actual cost is $14.2 million.
The Hawthorne remodel is complete at $1.18 million, $87,000 over the original estimate.
Among the larger projects underway are new HVAC systems, lighting and asbestos removal.
The project costs were covered by savings elsewhere in the bond and by not doing several of the bond projects at Pleasant Valley, now leased by Little Promises.
Other projects that are substantially complete include roofing, the removal of underground gas tanks, covered play structures at elementary schools, fire and security alarms and intercom systems.
HVAC and asbestos projects are complete at Oak Heights, the junior high and high school. The district is just finishing up at Foster. Work remains at Hawthorne, Holley, Crawfordsville and the Central Office.
The district has spent about $946,000 so far on the project and anticipates another $893,000 but saving some $167,00 from the original estimate.
Other work remaining includes restroom upgrades to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The district anticipates spending another $450,000. It has spent $50,000 so far and anticipates saving $169,000 from the original estimate.
The district has not yet replaced $101,000 in replacing doors and $267,000 in floor tiles. Nearly all of the blacktop projects it planned, $228,000, remain to be completed.
The district is about half done with $648,000 in heating and lighting and domestic water and piping projects.
Other projects partially completed include new bells and wiring, new wells and equipment, hall lockers, storage, utility bays and bleachers.
The district is “trying to use every dollar and stretch every dollar as best as it can,” Business Manager Kevin Strong said. All of the major projects should be completed by next summer.