‘We want to make Lenox a premier school’

LENOX — Residents of the Lenox community gathered in the high school gymnasium Monday night to discuss the March 3 bond vote seeking over $9 million for a $13 million project to improve and construct new facilities in the school district.

Superintendent David Henrichs led the discussion as he explained to voters the different funds the school can access for projects and the history of such bonds in and around the district —particularly the 2003 Lenox Elementary School construction bond set to be paid off this year.

“Through financial planning, the district will be making the final payment this spring, three years earlier than required,” said Henrichs. “With this being ahead, it saves you, the taxpayers, around $75,000 of interest expense. We want to demonstrate the support the community has shown this district and to demonstrate how the district strives to be responsible with your money.”

Henrichs said the levy rate is the same as the current bond and that tax increases would only occur if the value of the property has increased. While the project has a $13 million price tag, the bond vote is $9,994,000 to be paid over the course of 20 years. The remaining portion of the money needed comes from a loan against the existing sales tax.

The master plan for the project addresses key concepts decided upon by board members, administration, staff, students and community members with assistance by construction manager Estes Construction and integrated design firm DLR Group.

“We want to make Lenox a premier school in the state,” said Henrichs.

Any items in the bond issue are subject to change, but no new items can be added to the measure.

Existing structures

The first item addressed in the plan deals with the roof of the Lenox Elementary School building. Henrichs said the buildings are prone to leaks and drafts due to faulty workmanship on the construction of the roof. The warranty for the roof isn’t covered for this reason, instead receiving free temporary fixes.

“I asked the holder of the warranty to do an investigation,” said Henrichs. “They said we had to go after the company that installed it. Come to find out the company is no longer in business, so we have nobody to go back on.”

The other existing structure in need of replacement are windows in the high school.

Updating the stadium

In an effort to improve the experience of Lenox athletic events, updates to the track and field are in the plan. Currently, the idea is to replace the grandstand and visitors section with permanent seating. The lighting and press box at the field are also slated for replacement.

“The current bleachers aren’t ADA compliant, and LED lights would make things energy efficient,” said Henrichs.

Adding on

Much of the plan deals with adding and rearranging classrooms. Henrichs said he believes the size of the current classrooms to be inadequate and that a new arrangement must be met to properly promote academic success.

“I’ll be honest, some of these rooms are so small it’s almost like teachers are teaching out of closets,” said Henrichs.

The current plan intends to build two unspecified classrooms and a collaboration room south of the safe rooms, a new shop and industrial tech department north of the home economics and vocal rooms, increased storage for the vocal and music department, an auxiliary gym south of the high school gym and new locker rooms to the north of the building.

“We are striving to grow our industrial tech and agriculture programs, and part of that would be building a new facility,” said Henrichs. “Currently, ag is conducted on a stage in the elementary gym.”

Creating the new shop would free up the current space on the gym stage, allowing for that area to either become the wrestling room or the weight room, with the other room being set in the current wrestling room.

The auditorium conundrum

One addition not addressed in the bond issue is the construction of a long-awaited auditorium in the district. The original plan had included the building, estimating the cost of the project to be just over $2 million. However, the actual cost was discovered to be over $7 million.

“I have not heard a single board member say we do not want or need an auditorium,” said Henrichs.

Community response was mixed over the lack of inclusion. Students of the speech and vocal departments aired their concerns with the process, saying they felt unheard in the situation, whereas other voters said they wish the auditorium could be included in the measure but feel it is important to vote for the bond regardless.

Henrichs stressed that administration and the board were not the ones who selected what was important, citing results of a survey issued at parent-teacher conferences that had individuals rank each project based on importance. With more than 60 individuals surveyed, the auditorium was ranked last.

Potential compromises were discussed, with a popular idea involving a stage in the planned auxiliary gym, which is designed to seat 500 people. However, voters pointed out that the new gym is currently the lowest ranked item in the plan and said they were worried about it being cut from the plan after being worked as the compromise. Henrichs said the community could have say over what is taken out of the plan if the need arises.

After being asked about the possibility of constructing the auditorium in the near future, Henrichs said the project wouldn’t be started for at least ten years in a best-case scenario. Henrichs urged patience and compromise, choosing to look at the community support as a positive indicator.

“The auditorium was in the master plan, that’s the closest we have ever gotten to having an auditorium,” said Henrichs.

The election will take place 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 3 at the Lenox Community Center for Taylor County voters in the district and the Prescott Library for Adams County voters in the district.