LPS board OKs $82M in school projects
The Lincoln Board of Education on Tuesday set in motion the next step in an unprecedented construction plan for the district, approving projects on 11 more schools.
The price tag will be about $82 million, the amount district officials have conservatively estimated will be available from a number of sources, including savings on the projects now being completed as part of the $250 million bond issue approved by voters.
Other sources include money from non-voter-approved bonds for renovations such as mold prevention and codes updates; non-voter-approved bonds for Title I schools; and income from bond investments.
Mark Shepard, associate superintendent of business affairs, assured the board that officials are closely watching the bond market and there will be sufficient money available to pay for the construction projects already under way, as well as the ones approved Tuesday.
The district still has to sell $100 million in bonds but wasn’t planning to do that until the first quarter of 2009.
Shepard said he hopes that by that time the bond market will have stabilized, but officials and their financial advisors are watching it closely and will determine how long they can wait to issue the bonds to get the best return.
“We feel confident at this point the $82 million is a solid number,” he said.
The board voted 6-0 to approve the new projects as part of its 10-year facilities plan. Board member Don Mayhew was not present.
Board members created the facilities plan when voters approved the $250 million bond issue in 2006, and they update it annually. Most of the projects approved Tuesday were part of that plan already, but not included in the projects they promised to do as part of the bond issue.
The bond issue projects included building three new schools, replacing Arnold Elementary and renovating the four older high schools.
The projects approved Tuesday include the renovation of Goodrich Middle School that will add a new science wing and eliminate the need for five portables; adding classroom space to Morley, Hill, Fredstrom and Campbell elementaries; and updating Pyrtle, Lakeview and Zeman elementaries.
The plan also includes renovating the former Hawthorne Elementary, although the board still hasn’t decided how to use the building. It voted in 2007 to close the elementary school.
Karen Lamb, who opposed closing both Hawthorne and Dawes Middle School, on Tuesday thanked the board for deciding to keep Dawes open.
Last year, the board put off closing the middle school at least until Goodrich was renovated. Recently, though, several board members have said it appears there will be enough growth in the north part of town to keep it open indefinitely.
“It’s nice to be validated,” she said. “I’m glad a group on the facilities committee came up with the same conclusion a group of parents did last year,” she said.
She also asked the board to consider not adding too much space to Goodrich.
But board member Keith Prettyman said the planned renovation will, with the elimination of portables, add only 21 new seats.
“I do not think the argument can be made that we’re overbuilding,” he said.
Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.
The price tag will be about $82 million, the amount district officials have conservatively estimated will be available from a number of sources, including savings on the projects now being completed as part of the $250 million bond issue approved by voters.
Other sources include money from non-voter-approved bonds for renovations such as mold prevention and codes updates; non-voter-approved bonds for Title I schools; and income from bond investments.
Mark Shepard, associate superintendent of business affairs, assured the board that officials are closely watching the bond market and there will be sufficient money available to pay for the construction projects already under way, as well as the ones approved Tuesday.
The district still has to sell $100 million in bonds but wasn’t planning to do that until the first quarter of 2009.
Shepard said he hopes that by that time the bond market will have stabilized, but officials and their financial advisors are watching it closely and will determine how long they can wait to issue the bonds to get the best return.
“We feel confident at this point the $82 million is a solid number,” he said.
The board voted 6-0 to approve the new projects as part of its 10-year facilities plan. Board member Don Mayhew was not present.
Board members created the facilities plan when voters approved the $250 million bond issue in 2006, and they update it annually. Most of the projects approved Tuesday were part of that plan already, but not included in the projects they promised to do as part of the bond issue.
The bond issue projects included building three new schools, replacing Arnold Elementary and renovating the four older high schools.
The projects approved Tuesday include the renovation of Goodrich Middle School that will add a new science wing and eliminate the need for five portables; adding classroom space to Morley, Hill, Fredstrom and Campbell elementaries; and updating Pyrtle, Lakeview and Zeman elementaries.
The plan also includes renovating the former Hawthorne Elementary, although the board still hasn’t decided how to use the building. It voted in 2007 to close the elementary school.
Karen Lamb, who opposed closing both Hawthorne and Dawes Middle School, on Tuesday thanked the board for deciding to keep Dawes open.
Last year, the board put off closing the middle school at least until Goodrich was renovated. Recently, though, several board members have said it appears there will be enough growth in the north part of town to keep it open indefinitely.
“It’s nice to be validated,” she said. “I’m glad a group on the facilities committee came up with the same conclusion a group of parents did last year,” she said.
She also asked the board to consider not adding too much space to Goodrich.
But board member Keith Prettyman said the planned renovation will, with the elimination of portables, add only 21 new seats.
“I do not think the argument can be made that we’re overbuilding,” he said.
Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.
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