The Salem Community High School Board took another step forward on a $10-million renovation project next summer.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says the resolution to issue new working cash bonds is needed to complete the financing for the project.
“What we are doing is making public notification the intent to sell $4 million in working cash bonds. Then we will pair that with $6 in health, life, safety bonds in able to get to the $10 million issuance that we are looking at to do the HVAC, lighting and window projects all in the summer of 2022.”
Detering says the working cash bonds would not increase taxes, but would rather extend the length of the current life safety bond issue. He reports the health life safety bond issue to pay for the HVAC portion of the project has already been approved.
The company that manages the school’s building projects, Ameresco, are comfortable they can complete all the work during next year’s summer break. However, they may try to start some of the work before school is out during non-school hours.
Detering told the board the district finished the fiscal year with a $700,000 surplus. $200,000 of that amount was due to unanticipated federal COVID-19 relief money that was unexpected.
In personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of head boys basketball coach Andy Fehrenbacher. They also accepted the resignation of Maddi Pea as art teacher and yearbook sponsor and Josh Lusch as assistant boys basketball coach. Thomas Goff was hired as a paraprofessional for the upcoming school year.
The board raised the salary of substitute teachers to $100 per day.
The board also purchased a new work pickup truck from Schmidt Ford of Salem.
