Central School Board looks at plans for potential room renovations

By Pam Reinig, Times-Register

The Central School Board met in a special work session last week to look at plans for the potential renovation of several rooms. Four classrooms—two each for math and English—plus a small office and the outside walls of two restrooms have suffered damage from an ongoing water issue. 

“By addressing the outside walls, we can also upgrade the mechanicals and remodel the inside of the classrooms to replicate the current remodel project,” said Central Superintendent Nick Trenkamp.

The outside walls are part of the original school building. They were not a priority at the time of the recent renovation. Although the capital improvements project addressed many significant issues and resulted in major improvements across the facility, not everything could be addressed. And the current project won’t be the end of facility improvements, either. At some point, the river-side classrooms will need to be addressed.

A rough estimate of the project under consideration is about $500,000.

“If we move forward, the project will go out for bid in late winter or early spring, and the work would be done over the summer,” Trenkamp added.

Although the board reviewed a couple of funding scenarios, Trenkamp said the most likely option is to pay for the work from existing revenue. The work will not increase tax rates. 

At the work session, the board also approved hiring an additional elementary teacher for next year. An increase in the number of elementary students necessitates the addition.