In April 2005, the patrons of the Parsons District Schools – USD 503 passed a referendum to let $16.5M in bonds to improve facilities in the district. At the time of the election, the State of Kansas support of the bond principal and interest was 40%. The USD 503 patrons would pay 60%. This fiscal year brought an increase of the state support to 42%. The district also applied for and received a 5-year Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) in the amount of $1.2M to supplement the facilities project and other district needs. A QZAB is an interest-free loan from the federal government available to school districts that qualify based on free/reduced lunch eligibility.
This summer the school district completed several projects of the overall facilities improvement plan. The largest project so far was the ceiling asbestos abatement completed at the high school. There were several other places where asbestos was abated in areas related to the Garfield restroom renovation. Roofs have been recovered or replaced at Garfield and Guthridge, with Lincoln scheduled to be completed in the very near future.
The design phase of the elementary schools project is finished. A pre-bid meeting was held last Friday with interested contractors walking through the three buildings to view the structures. Bids for the elementary projects are due on October 25th at 2:00 pm. If all goes according to plan, the Board of Education would take action on the bids later that week and construction would begin in mid-November.
The office areas of each elementary school will be remodeled and relocated to open out to the main entrances of the school. Except for a few classrooms that have had tile or carpeting replaced in the past five years, each school will have flooring replaced. New fire/tornado alarm and intercom systems will be installed, too.
On each elementary campus the playground areas will be redesigned and relocated. This is not included as part of the bond issue project but one that is necessary due to the additions at each site. This will be the responsibility of the school district. The Parsons High School Computer Aided Drafting and Design classes will assist with the design.
Garfield will have a new media center and small-group workspace that also will serve as a tornado shelter. The two sets of restrooms will be refurbished and the boiler room will be renovated to include a teacher workroom. The music mobile will be removed from the site and the current media center will be converted into a music room for vocal music and Suzuki Strings classes. Garfield will have the asbestos tile removed throughout the hallways and classrooms.
The Guthridge plan includes two new classrooms and small-group workspaces. The location of this addition will be to the east of the current Tornado Safe Room.
At Lincoln, three new classrooms and two small-group work areas will be added. Some of this space also will be constructed to serve as a tornado shelter. This addition will be located to the south.
High School Project
The high school project involves the additions of new classroom space, media center, an auditorium, small gymnasium, parking space, as well as the replacement of the track and tennis courts. Extensive renovations of the current main building will include heating and air conditioning, new flooring, ceilings, and restrooms. The cafeteria will be expanded and the student support services moved to the main entrance area. We relocated the classroom addition so that it will extend from the science wing to the new gymnasium, creating a circular path students could follow to go from one section of the building to another.
The design phase should be completed by the middle of December with the bid specifications due to go out the first of January, 2006. Construction will begin by the end of February, weather permitting.
We are very excited and anxious to begin the construction phase of the elementary schools next month. We also share the concern about the escalating cost of construction due to the materials need in the Gulf Coast region. Our school board is committed to being good stewards of the public’s money and will make adjustments as required in order to be fiscally responsible. The community will be kept apprised of developments and we will continue to be open to concerns and suggestions. Do not hesitate to contact me at the district office (421-5950).
- Deborah Perbeck, Superintendent