Dist. 207 planning $6 million of improvements at schools

Maine Township High School District 207 officials are planning more than $6 million worth of facility improvement projects next summer at the district’s three schools as part of a 10-year capital plan.

The work includes the installation of interior and exterior security cameras at all schools and the replacement of football stadium lights that are more than 50 years old at Maine West and Maine East.

“The word ‘replacement’ is used quite frequently in this plan,” said Mary Kalou, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. “We’re starting to hear some themes, which is ‘replace’ (and) ‘50 years old’ on a lot of our equipment. Fifty years is a long time for some of this equipment.”

Kalou said in the last two years, the district has been faced with making emergency repairs up to $30,000 on equipment that has gone beyond its “useful life.”

District architects, engineers, custodians, administrators, principals and department chairs identified facility needs in 2012 when developing the district’s long range facility plan.

Last summer, almost $2 million worth of improvements were completed in year one of the plan, from new auditorium seating and electrical work at Maine East and West to tuck pointing around the entire building at South.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the proposed 2014 projects and estimated costs at each school:

Maine West — $1,705,000

Ÿ Replacement of six existing 50-year-old exterior stadium lights with four new energy efficient units at a cost of $350,000.

Ÿ Crack filling, seal coating and striping parking lots for $300,000.

Ÿ Restoration of roofing in D wing for $200,000.

Maine East — $1,965,000

Ÿ Replacement of the existing 10 light poles on the field — now more than 60 years old — with four new energy efficient units, which will be located in back of the bleachers. The estimated cost is $350,000.

Ÿ Replacement of center court windows for $320,000.

Ÿ Paving of portions of the parking lot for $300,000.

Maine South — $2,455,000

Ÿ Replacement of HVAC rooftop units and vents on the north side of the building for $1 million.

Ÿ Replacement of the roof over the cafeteria hallways and applied tech area for $450,000.

Ÿ Paving of portions of the parking lot for $180,000.

Maine South will not be getting new stadium lights because lights were installed for the first time there about five years ago, district officials said.

Approximately 100 cameras will be installed at each school at a price of $400,000 per school.

Library carpeting, now 15 years old, will be replaced in all three buildings.

In total, the summer 2014 projects are estimated to cost $6,125,000.

They will be funded through the district’s operations and maintenance fund, and health, life and safety fund.

The board is expected to approve construction contracts for the individual projects this month and next month.