Financial News

Although it has only been a few quick months since the fall referendum, the District has made significant Progress on implementing the items included with the referendum question related to safety, security, communications and maintenance.

The first step needed to prepare for the security and communication upgrades was to upgrade our network backbone.  The network switches that connected our buildings were over 10 years old.  The District was able to utilize the Federal e-rate program to install new Cisco switches throughout the District with the federal program covering 70% of the cost!

The cornerstone of the safety and communication part of the referendum was the need for a new phone system to replace the 15+ year-old phone system that was no longer supported as the manufacturer was out of business.  The District went out for proposals and selected CoreBTS of Madison to install a Cisco phone system over the summer.  The phone system integrates with the existing bell and intercom systems, as well as the new video and access control systems.  The system also is a platform for emergency notifications and alerts and can be expanded to work with other District systems going forward.

On the security front, the District went out for proposals for security cameras and access controls.  The District selected Integral Building Systems of Madison to install access control card readers on many of the exterior entrances and main hall corridors throughout the District.  They also installed new security camera systems at the middle school and three elementary buildings.

You may have also noticed bollards added outside a number of the District entrances.  Bollards are the concrete posts that would help keep a vehicle from being able to drive into and through the glass entrances.

The first major maintenance project that has been completed so far with the referendum dollars was the front roof at Parkside which was installed in June.  The 10+ year-old maintenance and delivery vans were also replaced.

The other major projects included with the referendum that remain to be completed are primarily maintenance projects.  In the summer of 2018, we will replace a section of the middle school roof, replace the middle school playground asphalt, and repair the middle school clock tower.  This will require summer school to move back to the high school for the summer of 2018.  We will also be replacing the front drive, front sidewalk, and retaining wall at Parkside Elementary.

Although it has been a hectic time to get all of these items in place, it was a priority for the District to implement the safety and security measures a quickly as possible.  As we move forward with getting proposals on the remaining projects in the spring of 2018 and completing the work during the summer of 2018, it will allow us to evaluate whether any funds remain to complete other minor projects.  To date the Parkside roof project and the phone system have come in under the budgeted amounts so there may be some funds available to do more work.

The Board of Education has selected Plunkett Raysich Architects and CG Schmidt Construction to complete a facilities study of the District.  The District has not had a complete facilities study done for nearly 20 years.  The study will look at all aspects of the District's buildings and grounds.

One of the other specific areas that the District requested be addressed by the facility study is options for providing secure main entrances for all of our school buildings.  The Board intentionally did not address the secure entrances with the current referendum because they knew we would be undertaking this facilities study.

We should have initial findings from the facilities study in late fall and the Board will then begin the process of prioritizing needs and solutions; there will be an opportunity for staff, parent and community input during this process.