SCHOOL DISTRICT OF JEFFERSON

JEFFERSON, WISCONSIN

 

MINUTES

HIGH SCHOOL FACILITIES PROJECT AD HOC COMMITTEE

October 21, 2009

 

The High School Facilities Project Ad Hoc Committee of the Board of Education of the School District of Jefferson met on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, in the High School Library.  Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. with Committee members Buth and Pupanek present. 

 

Also in attendance for this meeting were Superintendent Swartz, Scott Kramer of Plunkett, Raysich Architects, LLP, Craig Uhlenbrauck, John Schneider, and David Schaetz of Miron Construction Co., Inc, and Doug Beilke of Maas Brothers Construction Co., Inc.

 

Approval of Previous Minutes:  The minutes from the October 1, 2009 meeting were reviewed and the following revisions were suggested:  

 

-         The minutes should reflect that both Mr. Swartz and Mr. Krause were in attendance.

-         Committee members asked if files (.pdf, .ppt, .doc) of the drawings could be ‘attached’ to the minutes.

-         The following language will be added:

There are additional building components that were not in included in the $26 million price.  Those items included

           Replacing the HVAC in the balance of the school with either conventional or geothermal

           Two station gymnasium and locker rooms

           Remaining part of school that does not have any work being done to it

           New tennis courts

           Track improvements

           Concession/storage building

-         The sentence referencing a less expensive option will be changed to “A less expensive option compared to the two previous referendums for potential changes to the high school was presented and discussed.”

-         This sentence will be added to the R.W. Baird & Co. paragraph “Mr. Buth asked if the QTCB funding is the stimulus money that President Obama has been referring to in the news.  Mr. Brewer responded that, yes it is.”

 

The revised minutes will be presented for approval at the next meeting of this committee.

 

Review of Drawings from Plunkett Raysich Architects: Scott Kramer presented the site and building plans that have been modified slightly. 

 

Items reviewed on the site plan included:

           Storm water management and location of a retention/detention pond

o       The pond is drawn along the south and west sides of the football field along Willow Drive.  This entire area would not be wet, but gradually deepen to the south.  Entire area will be fenced in for safety. 

o       Right field of the JV/Freshman baseball diamond should not be affected by this pond.

o       Pond could be located where the tennis courts currently exist. 

           Parking areas and number of stalls

           Concessions and toilets – location is not set in stone

           Bus traffic flow

           Expansion of track from 6 to 8 lanes and its impact on the location of the retention/detention pond

 

It was emphasized that this site plan as presented is a concept only.  Many more revisions and refinements will be made in the future.

 

Items discussed on the building plan included:

           The rooms have been renamed to accurately reflect subjects

           A distance learning lab is included on this plan.  If JEDI is phased out by the time a building is built, this room could become a computer lab

           There are locker rooms adjoining the pool, and will be labeled

 

Discussion on the building roof followed.  It was noted that the flat roof has a quarter inch per foot pitch to provide drainage.  The roof drains are internal and will all tie back to the retention pond.  The current roof drainage is not sufficient to drain in a timely fashion.  Any project will include a new roof for the entire building.

 

Review of Costing Information from Miron/Maas Construction: Craig Uhlenbrauck reviewed the project costs.  He noted that the changes to the previous figures included:

o       The square footage of the “renovate remainder of existing high school” was amended to 56,705 from 76,705 – as the higher figure included auditorium space that won’t be renovated

o       Two line items were added

§         Concession building

§         Auditorium enhancements

 

Discussion turned to the building’s HVAC system – geothermal vs. conventional.  The total cost for a building-wide geothermal system is approximately $900,000.  As presented, the cost for HVAC options is confusing; this will be simplified.

 

Review of Mill Rate Information from R.W. Baird & Co.: The information related to financing options presented at the October 1, 2009 committee meeting has not changed.  Without a final project proposal with an associated cost, the potential tax impact is still an unknown.  Mr. Swartz shared an email he received from Brian Brewer of R.W. Baird & Co. explaining tax impact scenarios using various allocations of Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) funds.   

 

The district could apply for some Federal stimulus (QSCB) dollars if a project were ready to go to referendum by April, 2010. 

 

Not only is the timing of a referendum crucial to be eligible for any stimulus funding, but the public should be made aware that construction costs are greater for winter work, the level of student disruption during construction depends on when the work is done, and bond rates are currently low. 

 

Discussion of Building Priorities: Mr. Thompson reviewed the lists of each committee member’s building priorities.  Everything has been addressed in the most recent concept drawing except the technology education areas, additional gymnasium space, and HVAC in the “no remodeling” areas of the building. 

 

Emphasis was made on the following:

           Any renovated/new areas of the building will be wired for technology, but the cost estimates as provided do not include hardware, computers, whiteboards, etc.

           Classrooms will have some built in cabinetry, which is included in the cost estimate

           The entire building will receive a new roof

 

Committee members discussed a rough construction timeline based on a February 16, 2010 approved referendum:

o       August 2010 – drawings complete and bidding can begin

o       Summer of 2010 – summer school can be held as is

o       August 15, 2011 – academic wing and new pool could be completed

o       A new academic wing could be student-occupied for the 2011-2012 school year

o       Renovations would take place during the summer of 2011, so summer school would need to relocate

o       Additional renovations could be completed during the summer of 2012

o       Project completion by Fall of 2012

 

 An April 6, 2010 referendum will push this schedule back by at least eight weeks, and the students would not be in the new academic wing for the 2011-2012 school year.

 

A more defined construction schedule can be drawn up once the project direction is known. 

 

All three committee members agreed that the School Board has an obligation to attempt to take advantage of available stimulus dollars for this project, which means a referendum by April, 2010 at the latest.  They also believe that the Board should strive for the least amount of student disruption during construction, which would be accomplished by a February 2010 referendum. 

 

Discussion on Committee Recommendation to the Full Board: Mr. Thompson reminded the committee that in order to go to referendum in February, a formal Board resolution must be adopted by January 1, 2010. 

 

The architects will ‘clean up’ the drawings and revised cost figures will be provided based on:

           Tennis court location across Taft Avenue

           Retention/detention pond to be located in tennis courts’ current location

           Outdoor toilets/storage moved

           Language denoting that all drawings are conceptual and subject to change will be included

           Pool locker rooms labeled

           Event entrance labeled near pool

           Names removed from second floor English and Art classrooms

           Access to technology area noted

 

Discussion on the potential for several referendum questions followed.  The board could break the project down into three sections for a true phased approach.

 

           base project at a cost of $28,550,000

           renovate balance of school and enhance auditorium at a cost of $3,475,000

           athletic improvements (track & gymnasium) at a cost of $4,685,000

 

Revised cost estimates will be provided using these three ‘phases’ as discussed.  The entire building will include a sprinkler system and fire coding.

 

Discussion of training for district maintenance staff for the new building systems followed.  As with any new system, manuals, training, and a maintenance schedule will be provided. 

 

Future Meeting Date(s): No dates for future committee meetings were scheduled.  The full Board will meet on Monday, October 26, 2009 and this committee will provide a report.  A Special meeting of the full Board will be scheduled with this as the sole topic of discussion.

 

Discussion of Possible Topics for Future Meetings

Written timeline - synopsis of February referendum vs. April referendum

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Pupanek, seconded by Mr. Buth. The motion passed on a voice vote. 

 

ADJOURNMENT: 8:16 p.m.

 BOARD OF EDUCATION

Secretary, Pati Fitzgerald