Unit 40 Board Looks at Junior High Renovation Ideas

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Published on December 18 2017 10:09 pm
Last Updated on December 19 2017 7:39 am
Written by Greg Sapp

When the Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education learned several months ago that a new junior high school building would cost $35 million, they decided to look toward renovating the existing structure.

A renovation proposal was reviewed at Monday night's meeting, a project that would cost between $18 million and $20.7 million.

Unit 40 Superintendent Mark Doan said crews went through the junior high building from stem to stern to determine what should be a part of the project.

Work in the original portion of the building, completed in 1939, would include:

--roof replacement and windows

--new HVAC system

--LED lighting upgrades

--updated fire alarm system

--new flooring

--fire-rated corridor doors

--interior/exterior painting

--plumbing

--new exterior doors

--electrical updates

--new drop ceilings

--asbestos abatement

--restroom updates

--new lower level restroom

--locker room renovation

Work needed on the 1962 addition would include:

--new windows

--new HVAC system

--LED lighting upgrades

--updated fire alarm system

--restroom updates

--fire-rated corridor doors

--flooring and plumbing

--masonry and demoing the old school board office area

--new exterior doors

--updated electrical

--new drop ceilings

--asbestos abatement

--interior painting

--breezeway enclosure

Site work options could include:

--updated sidewalks

--new bus drive and staging area

--new student pick-up and drop-off

--grandstand demolition

--parking lot addition

--update the circle drive

--update the entrances and stairs

--update asphalt areas

--underground utility updates

There are other options the Board could consider if they decide to pursue a project. Those could include:

--moving the cafeteria out of the basement

--renovating the shop area into a kitchen and build a cafe addition

--add a gymnasium east of the original gym and utilize the girls' gym as a new cafeteria

--adding a practice gym or competition gym

Estimates are that about 90% of the renovation work could be paid for through health and life safety bonds. Those could be sold by the Board without a voter referendum. The remaining cost would have to come from other District funds on-hand.

There was no comment from the Board members, as they just received the information at the meeting. There's also no timetable yet as to when the Board will decide whether or not to pursue the project.

The study indicated that the junior high building is solid, but the utilities are outdated. Doan said the Board always has the option to keep on making repairs to the building as problems arise.