USD 235 board gets look at plans for improvement project

The USD 235 Board of Education is moving forward with a $2.5 million school improvement project, which voters said "yes" to in April 2015.

At their monthly meeting Monday, board members gathered around Brett Miller and Taylor Durr with Knipp Equipment of Wichita; Vic Runer of A-Lert Roof Systems and take a look at plans they have started. The project involves new heating/air-conditioning and new roofs at the junior/senior high school building.

Greg Vahrenberg with Piper Jaffray, the group helping with the financing of the project, also gave the board an update.

Heating and air-conditioning

The heating and air-conditioning system at the junior/senior high school is outdated, performs inconsistently and is not energy-efficient, Interim Superintendent Jan Hedges said.

A plan was started to replace the heating and air-conditioning system about two years ago with Miller.

"We did the elementary school about six years ago," Miller said. "As time progressed we put some budget numbers for Randy (Rockhold,former superintendent). We got some drawings that are 20-percent, at the most, complete. We thought it would be a 2016 project."

In October, Knipp called the district office to speak with Rockhold about the project, he said. Instead, he learned that Rockhold had resigned and Hedges was hired as interim superintendent.

"I came and visited with her and went over the whole scope of everything," Miller said. "She invited us back, then we met with the custodial staff and went through everything again. Here we are today."