Facility updates considered at Cloverdale schools

Thursday, March 14, 2019

CLOVERDALE -- After a later start and a large crowd had gathered, the Cloverdale School Board heard input on a major move with regard to updates and improvements at all facilities in the corporation during its monthly meeting Monday evening.

Being the only item on the agenda that addressed such long-term projects which it has previously appraised, the board considered the urgency of specific renovations as determined by CCSC Maintenance Director Jeff Underwood.

Underwood presented a school-by-school list of energy conservation measures (ECMs), tentative projects aimed at reducing the amount of energy needed and the cost of utilities in the long run. Also included in his report were some security and paving needs.

More specifically, he outlined the projected costs to the corporation on a year-to-year basis from this year through 2026. Underwood also outlined which improvements he believed needed the most priority for each building.

The most pressing issues Underwood addressed at Cloverdale High School were the replacement of electrical panels and repairs to its parking lot. Underwood also stressed that current light fixtures in the gymnasium needed to be switched to LED by 2026.

Underwood added that the electrical panels at the high school would also need to be replaced no later than 2023. According to Underwood’s spreadsheet, this improvement would cost more than $688,000. Conversely, the parking lot repairs would cost $7,500.

Underwood also said the current card access system at CHS would need updates, but that it wasn’t the best time to “jump in as the technology is improving.” As such, he projected the current system would suffice until 2024.

Including other replacements and upgrades which were not considered as needed until 2025, the total cost of the renovations at CHS stands at just under $4,200,000.

At Cloverdale Middle School, Underwood said window repairs and a chiller installation are the most needed. Though the latter came under repairs for 2025, he said the leaks needed to be fixed this year. Along with renovations to CMS’ ventilation systems and boiler installations, the total cost would amount to approximately $1,200,000.

In Underwood’s estimations, Cloverdale Elementary School will require the most immediately crucial work. Like the high school, replacements of its electrical panels will be needed, but will cost more than $760,000. The elementary school will also require repairs to its windows and parking lot, which would total a little more than $9,100 and be completed by next year.

The most expensive renovation would be a chiller and unit replacement in the media center and the gymnasium, totaling at $844,784. However, this would be a longer-term item for 2026. Underwood also stressed that CES’ backup emergency light system needed replaced this year, accounting that “we have no parts which are available or made anymore,” and that he had resorted to purchasing what he could find on eBay. That update would cost $19,500, but would save the corporation in the long-term.

The overall cost of repairs at the elementary school would come to a figure of more than two million dollars, with four of its necessary upgrades slated to be completed by 2022.

Though he provided a listing rather than details of these replacements, Underwood said he wanted to give the board more time to review his estimations before committing to the budget. Board President Vivian Whitaker, though stating that 2023 currently does not have any scheduled projects, commended Underwood for his work in compiling the list.

“I certainly appreciate it being balanced as it is, even though we still need to look at it more,” Whitaker said. “I’m happy that we’re looking at how to make it last and still be responsible.”

Superintendent Greg Linton referred to an evaluation of Cloverdale’s facilities last July by EMCOR, an international construction firm that has performed other school renovation projects in Indiana, as supporting the feasibility of the projects.

“(EMCOR) did not find anything that we’d consider big ticket items, and so I think we already had a good idea of what we needed then,” Linton said. “I think Jeff has done a good job getting this together from our conversations on what is necessary and what can wait.”

In other items on the agenda, Cloverdale Middle School’s Clover-Bots team demonstrated a set-up of a Vex robotics competition challenge. The team, coached by Susan Smith, discussed its preparation and training during this school year, and attributed its improvement to how members have learned to work together and brainstorm solutions.

Whitaker also provided an update on endowments provided through the Cloverdale Dollars for Scholars program. She emphasized that Cloverdale’s chapter now has 11 scholarships, including six which are renewable. She also related that the chapter would soon be getting in touch with community members to support the upcoming Farm to Fork dinner, which will raise money for scholarships that all Putnam County students can access.

The board also recognized Cloverdale Schools’ Students of the Month. First-grader Myles Sawyer represented Cloverdale Elementary School, eighth-grader Austin Pennington was honored by staff at Cloverdale Middle School and sophomore Anna Powell was recognized from Cloverdale High School.

The board, with a dissenting vote by Arvel Hinton, also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignation: Raleigh Kidder, elementary school kindergarten teacher;

• Hires: Kristin Giles, high school guidance counselor; and DeeDee Skiles, part-time elementary school instructional assistant;

• Coaching: James Johnson Jr., high school assistant football coach; Brad Szczerbik, high school assistant football coach; Michael Nees, high school assistant football coach; Kyle Shaffer, high school JV football coach; Steve Caulkins, eighth-grade football coach; John Cartmell, seventh-grade football coach; Billy Boyette, middle school assistant football coach; and Katie Mosley, middle school girls’ track coach;

• Volunteers: Charlie Lee, high school assistant football coach; Ben Wallace, high school assistant football coach; Jaggar Hamilton, high school assistant football coach; Tom Monken, high school assistant football coach; Rob Costin, high school assistant softball coach; Mark Couch, high school assistant softball coach; Tom Royce, high school assistant softball coach; and Clyde Spencer, high school assistant softball coach.

Before the meeting was adjourned, both Whitaker and Linton expressed gratitude for Kidder’s service to Cloverdale Schools, and wished her the best after she leaves the corporation. Linton also thanked those community leaders who have donated to Cloverdale High School in recent months.

The next regular meeting of the Cloverdale School Board is scheduled for April 8 at 7 p.m. in the Arthur C. Johnson Administration Building near Cloverdale High School.

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