Budget may allow more school upgrades

The Grafton School District is expecting to have about $230,000 remaining in its budget for school facility projects after construction is completed before the start of the next school year.

“We’ve been focused on completing the construction on time and on budget,” Business Director Topher Adams said during Monday’s School Board meeting.

The $39.9 million project approved by voters in April 2017 included upgrades at Grafton High School and Woodview and Kennedy elementary schools. 

Adams said he expects the district to receive about $450,000 in interest earned from referendum bonds. The district also received $187,000 in energy-savings credits, $80,000 in a school-security grant from the Wisconsin Department of Justice and $2.16 million in additional bond proceeds that were used outside the referendum. 

“We were able to use the (additional bond proceeds) that were taken out in a budget-neutral way that would not increase the tax burden, but also not impact the classroom,” Adams said. 

“We were able to use those funds to do additional pieces that were not included in the referendum.”

Because of the additional proceeds, the district has committed $42.57 million to the project. Adams also said the district set aside $45,000 for contingency costs. 

There is currently $2.5 million remaining in the referendum budget, but Adams said the district will be billed $2.2 million and expects to have about $236,000 remaining.

The estimated $236,000 has yet to be allocated. 

Once projects have been completed and billed in October, the School Board will consider proposals for additional work to be completed in summer 2020.

“We will have a firmer idea of what funds might be remaining,” Adams said. “At that point, the administration and the School Board will prioritize the projects to be addressed with those funds.”

During the meeting, it was suggested the remaining funds will be used for projects at John Long Middle School, which was not included in the referendum.

Director of Facilities Jamie Scofield told the board that the remaining projects are expected to be completed before the start of school in September. 

Asphalt repairs will begin next week in the high school parking lot along with seal coating and painting. This week, workers began retiling the disability ramp in the high school swimming pool and replacing water filters.

Next month, the high school’s gymnasium floor will be stained. Bathrooms at Woodview Elementary School are nearly complete, and swing sets will be installed at both elementary schools next month.

Scofield also said biofilters will be replaced at the high school tennis courts and at Kennedy elementary school.

“Everything is on schedule, and we’re looking good for the start of the school year,” Scofield said.