Dist. 302 building projects list: Long on work, short on money budgeted

The Kaneland school district should spend about $2.25 million fixing buildings and replacing equipment this year, and more than $8 million doing so in the next five years, according to a report presented to the board this week.

Since the annual budget typically allots only $300,000 for this, some work is going to be delayed at least a year, and in some cases indefinitely, according to the report, which was presented by Associate Superintendent Julie-Ann Fuchs and Mark Payton, director of buildings and grounds.

The proposed 2015-19 capital projects plan says that this year, Kaneland McDole Elementary should get a new surface on its playground, for safety's sake.

The rest of the 2015 work would be for the high school. It says Kaneland High needs:

• To have the bus parking lot sealcoated, estimated at $50,000;

• New sod for the football field, at $100,000;

• A new scoreboard for the football field, at $50,000;

• Replacement of the tennis courts, $150,000;

• Some new exterior doors, $15,000;

• A new wood floor for the east gymnasium, $200,000;

• New fitness equipment, $300,000;

• New band equipment, $150,000;

• A new telephone system, $105,000;

• A new security camera system, $125,000;

• New roofs over parts of the building, $1 million.

District executives are recommending that it put off the roof and gym floor replacements indefinitely; delay the sealcoating and the tennis court work until 2016; "rejuvenate" the field sod at a cost of $10,000; spend only $40,000 for band equipment; maybe replace the security camera system; and replace the doors individually, as needed. The playground work, fitness center equipment, scoreboard, and telephone work would be done. Money for the telephone work could come from the technology part of the budget, if the district postpones running fiber optic cable to Kaneland John Shields and Kaneland John Stewart elementary schools, according to the report.

One good note: The 60-year-old boilers at the high school are in good shape.

No work was recommended for Kaneland Middle School, which houses the Fox Valley Career Center.

The report did not cover the district's maintenance facilities, the transportation facility or the fire science training center at the Fox Valley Career Center, because they haven't been evaluated.

The board will discuss the list again at its March 9 meeting, and might vote on it that night, Fuchs said.