It will be another summer of major improvements at Salem Community High School.
The SCHS Board Monday night agreed to $ 2.1 million in improvements and amended a contract with Ameresco to oversee much of the work.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering explains some of the planned work.
“We have flooring and locker work, repairs and painting. So we are taking the tile up. We’ll have do some asbestos abatement with the tile. So there will be all-new hallway tile on all three academic floors as well as repairs and painting of all the lockers. Four different stairwells will get retreaded. Unfortunately, they also have asbestos, and some mitigation has to occur.”
Detering says a major renovation is also planned for the weight room.
“The weight room has the original ceiling tiles which require some abatement as well. The work will include removal of the lights, old heating/furnace equipment, and ductwork that comes through there. That all needs to be taken out. Then we’re going to renovate it with a new ceiling, new lights, new gym floor, and new equipment for the weight room.”
The board also approved a contract with BSN for new weight room equipment. The sound system in the main gym is scheduled to be replaced with array speakers that will reach dead spots on the gym floor and stage. Thomas James Productions will complete the work for $66,683.
Detering says there will be no tax increases to pay for the work.
“This is part of our five-year strategic plan. We’re going to be using current revenues from the one-percent sales tax. There will be no bonds being sold. We’re going to be using the money that the board has committed from savings since the one-cent sales tax began as well as we typically have about $800,000 each year that we’ve been putting into the budget [for building improvements].”
The district has also received a $50,000 state matching grant to help pay for the replacement of the stair treads on the staircases.
The board acted on several personnel issues. Rase Collins was hired as a science teacher for the next year and Dave Lever was named science department chair. Several coaches were hired. Suzanne Henry Brown will be the head boys’ track coach, Thomas Goff as assistant girls’ track coach, Katelyn Biegeleisen as assistant girls’ track coach, and Cory Purintin as boys’ soccer coach.
The board accepted a letter of resignation from Ashley Savage as head dance coach at the end of the school year.
The board approved allowing students of SCHS teachers who don’t live in the district to attend Salem High at no charge. Detering pushed the idea as another benefit they can offer teachers who remain in short supply.
The board approved a resolution to withdraw from the Prairie State Insurance Cooperative, but Detering says they will still be eligible to submit a bid for providing the district’s health insurance.
In other action, the board amended the school calendar to make the total eclipse day on April 8th a no-attendance day, replacing a non-attendance day originally scheduled for April 19th.
