Board to prioritize sinking fund projects

Seeking public input for list of needs to be considered

 

ALMONT — After two failed bond issues this year, one in February and another in August, the Almont school board has decided to go in a different direction.

The board is finalizing plans to go back to the community a third time this year. Only, in November, it will be a request for sinking funds, not a full-scale bond issue.

The board, which is currently operating as a six-person board due to the recent resignation of former member Rick Battani, is considering a five-year; 2 mill sinking fund that if approved, would allow the district to make badly needed improvements.

“We have four meetings (check school’s website for dates) scheduled for input from everyone. Public and staff,” said Supt. Kimberly VonHiltmayer. “Anyone can come. I’m not selecting certain people, or asking any set number of people to be on the committee. It will be more of a forum setting. We desperately need to get something done. Some of these issues are not going away any time soon and if they aren’t resolved somehow, it becomes a whole other set of isssues in how we continue to safely educate our stuidents.”

Some of the more major items that have been listed as badly needed is addressing the district’s HVAC system, roofing repairs, updates to classrooms along with safety and security issues district-wide.

The sinking fund, if approved, would generate around $1 million dollars per year, for five years and allow the district to address some of the major issues.

Building and Grounds Director Jason Frederick told the board, “right now, we are looking at repairs to the AC units. The compressors are just about totally shot and we need $172,000 to fix them.”

He added, “The balance of the sinking fund (approximately one million dollars) will go fast when we start doing some of these bigger repairs.”

Doors, windows, roofs, safety devices to keep staff and students more safe and secure, and classroom furniture are among some of the needs, according to Frederick.

He told the board, “we want to use some of the money we currently have on hand to do these projects, but we don’t want to take the balance down to zero either. I can just about guarentee something unexpected will happen and we have to have money on hand to fix them in a timely fashion. We also need to have an eye on the future. We start doing HVAC projects, the bigger ticket items and the five million, if it is passed, won’t take long to spend.”

In other board news, there was a level of tension between some school board members and Supt. Kimberley VonHiltmayer that came to a head at a work session meeting Tuesday August 20.

At issue is a payment to a construction management firm totaling over $30,000, in addition to the $65,000 for a total payment to Roncelli in the amount of $97,500.

The payment was related to the two failed bond proposals, for work the construction management firm performed during their contract with the district.

Board member Susan Frederiksen said she had some concerns and felt the news “was rather shocking,” to her.

She added, “I was under the impression we were paying the agreed to amount to Roncelli ($65,000). This is completely unacceptable and a lack of transparency to this entire board. this is in complete violation of our school policy.”

Frederiksen continued to share her concerns by pointing out, “Not all board dmembers knew what was happening, with this additional payment. This is inappropriate and I want to see a list of what work was done for this money.”

The contract revision was signed by former Board President Angela Edwards and Supt. VonHiltmayer back in March, after the failure of the first bond issue.

“I contacted our legal team and they said we were allowed to sign the document,” Supt. VonHiltmayer explained to the board.

Near the end of the meeting, during public comment time, community member Dennis Campbell told the board, “this is a bad deal. Just because it is legal, doesn’t make it right. Roncelli is not a partner with this district. They just want more of our money.”

Supt. VonHiltmayer said she was awaiting a response from the district’s legal team so she could further explain the action taken and why, to board members at their regular meeting on Monday of this week.

The board also heard from building staff on how they intend to help incoming eighth graders make the transition into the high school.

Work continues on how to make the incoming class part of activities such as the homecoming and snow-coming dances. School officials also intend to make a representative of the eighth grade part of the Student Council.

The board was asked to consider additional part-time secretarial help, due to the increased work load in the main office of the high school and in the athletic department.