Woodland wants to use state funds for phone system

Woodland Elementary District board members said they hope having a reliable telephone system qualifies as a necessary safety expense in the eyes of the state.

Gurnee-based Woodland Elementary District 50 needs Illinois State Board of Education permission to tap into what are called life-safety funds to pay for a better phone system.

School building projects such as a new heating system, ventilation upgrades, security cameras and improved gymnasium lighting have been covered from nearly $17 million in the life-safety pot.

District 50 board member Lawrence Gregorash said part of the $17 million should qualify for use on a new telephone system, which has had periodic problems.

Gregorash said the state requires schools to have access to a 911 emergency line and he wouldn't want to depend on wireless phones in an emergency.

"This phone system is in the failure mode," Gregorash said during an informal Woodland board forum Thursday evening. "They're patching it and keeping it together."

One of the longer phone failures at Woodland came in 2005 at the intermediate school and the educational support center headquarters, both on Hunt Club Road in Gurnee. Phones and e-mail service were down for about three days.

School board President Bruce Bohren said he hopes permission can be obtained from the state to spend some of the $17 million in life-safety cash on better telephone equipment.

Meanwhile, Bohren outlined the work planned for the summer to improve District 50's school buildings.

Roof repairs to stop leaking and floor tile replacement are on tap at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. Drainage upgrades and an additional attic sprinkler are planned for Woodland Primary School in Gages Lake.

Woodland's Elementary East building in Gages Lake is in line for new carpeting in the learning resource center and drainage work. The adjacent Elementary West building is scheduled to receive floor drains in the boys restrooms and drainage upgrades.