Dist. 303 contemplating $116 million of elementary school construction

Upgrading every elementary school in St. Charles Unit District 303 so it meets modern standards of accessibility, air quality, capacity, school programs, safety and parking could cost local taxpayers up to $116 million.

District staff provided the Daily Herald an early preview of a report expected to be shown to residents Thursday night that details the work each of the 12 elementary schools need to fulfill some long-sought basic needs.

The report measured all 12 schools in 36 categories to rate buildings on a pass or fail scale of quality. Also included was a summary of what it might cost to remedy the problems each school has.

All 12 elementary schools need some work, the report concluded. In fact, five of the elementary schools need so much work the report calls for a complete demolition and construction of new schools. Anytime total repair costs hit 60 percent of the cost of building a new school, the report suggests it's a better value to build new.

The schools that might be in need of a new building are Davis, Lincoln, Munhall, Wasco and Wild Rose elementaries. With the exception of Lincoln, the other schools can build new by placing a new school on the open land adjacent to the current schools. That would allow classes to continue in the current schools while the new school is built.

Students at Lincoln would probably experience a year in trailers if a new school is built for them. Lincoln is so landlocked it already has notable problems with parking. Lincoln is also the school with the most problems. It failed in 23 of the 36 areas measured.

Problems shared by every elementary school include a lack of program support spaces to facilitate teacher planning, a lack of emergency backup systems for necessary utilities, no surveillance cameras or building intrusion detection devices, and problems with voice communications throughout the schools in a security situation.

While the price tag might seem high, Superintendent Don Schlomann said the impact to taxpayers may not be as noticeable as it would first seem. There is some wiggle room to keep tax costs low with existing bonds. However, Schlomann said a referendum of some form is a certainty.

The $116 million doesn't include work that the middle and high schools might need. That presentation will come next week. A more thorough discussion of ways to pay for the work will come in October.

Here's how the report recommends the elementary schools are addressed:

• Anderson: Remodel for $8 million

• Bell-Graham: Remodel for $2.2 million

• Corron: Remodel for $2.1 million

• Davis: Build new for $18.9 million

• Ferson Creek: Remodel for $4.9 million

• Fox Ridge: Remodel for $3.6 million

• Lincoln: Build new for $11.8 million

• Munhall: Build new for $18.6 million

• Norton Creek: Remodel for $1.7 million

• Richmond: Remodel for $7.3 million

• Wasco: Build new for $18.5 million

• Wild Rose: Build new for $18.5 million