The Salem Grade School Board has approved a resolution authorizing up to $4-million-280-thousand in alternate revenue bonds to help pay for the replacement of the heating and air conditioning system at Franklin Park Middle School.
Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says taxpayers will not be impacted by the bonds thanks to the one-cent sales tax for schools approved last year.
“That doesn’t mean we will go up to that but we wanted to give a little cushion until we get the bids to see what things cost. Basically, it’s a resolution to pick a monetary amount we will not exceed. And this is all come from Alternative Revenue Bonds using our one-cent sales tax dollars.”
Foppe anticipates the Franklin Park project will cost in the range of $3-million to $4-million dollars. She reports the district has also received approval to use $1.5-million in life safety bonds towards the project. In addition, some federal CARES grant money could be made available to help schools improve their air handling systems.
The goal is to have the replacement work completed this summer. The HVAC system is believed to have been a cause of the mold problem at Franklin Park last summer that delayed the start of school.
Foppe says her top priority is to complete parking lot and outside lighting improvements with any remaining funds. She reports both Franklin Park and Hawthorn also need roof repairs.
Foppe says there will still be enough revenue from the one-cent sales tax to pay for the School Resource Officer.
