Updates Coming To Fierke And Kruse Education Centers

At the Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, 2013, Board Members reviewed a proposal given by Mr. Jeff Charleston, Director of Business Services, on behalf of the D146 Finance Committee. Mr. Charleston addressed the District’s 5-year capital plan items that have yet to be completed.

Mr. Charleston explained that because the District had a bigger than anticipated surplus for the fiscal year just ended, the District is able to accelerate some necessary items from the long term plan without burdening the taxpayers or community. Mr. Charleston recommended, on behalf of the Finance Committee, several projects to be completed. Two of those mentioned will directly affect Fierke and Kruse Education Centers.

“Both school roofs need re-coating,” Mr. Charleston said. “The benefit to the District to doing this maintenance work now as opposed to later would be to add time to the current roof warranties, as well as extending the useful life of the roofs. It would be a very good move financially and overall for the upkeep of the buildings.”

He also addressed the Board about the lack of air conditioning at both Fierke and Kruse inside their Gymnasiums. Mr. Charleston said, “These are the final two schools in the District without air conditioning in the gym. On hot days during the fall, spring and summer months, it can be extremely unbearable, and since the gymnasium is a multi-purpose area for the students (lunch room, assemblies, as well as P.E. class) and our parents (for after-school events) it has been on our wish list for a while to improve these spaces at both schools. It will make the gymnasiums much more useful for our students and staff, as well as the community.” The Board agreed to move forward with the projects, with planning to begin immediately. The actual work will start next summer, with the goal being to finish the projects before school starts next fall.