Architects draw up possible next steps for NV school facilities

A wide array of possible facilities projects were presented to the Nodaway Valley school board last Wednesday night during its monthly meeting in Fontanelle by the engineering and construction program management firm SitelogIQ.

If money were no object, the district has plenty of projects it could pursue to extend the life of facilities, make room for more students or spruce things up.

That being said, money is, of course, an object. After a presentation that lasted more than an hour, district leadership will now review the information, determine priorities and identify funding options to carry projects to completion.

Among the highlights in SitelogIQ’s drawings are additional classrooms to address crowding at the elementary school; new mechanical systems at the middle and high school; and a new, small parking lot to address parking problems at the high school.

The plans also included several items requested by stakeholders that may be considered at a later date or if additional funding could be secured. The items considered, but not currently in the plans, include a classroom addition at the middle school, CTE remodeling at the high school, and a competition gym at the high school. While a separate federal grant could put Nodaway Valley in the running to receive a new storm shelter which doubles as locker room space, that grant is not guaranteed. District leaders want to ensure that any improvements detailed through the SiteloIQ proposal are designed to complement any potential future grant-funded projects.

All told, the listed projects exceeded $30 million in estimated costs. Buildings and individual projects were broken out so leaders can pick and choose from within the overall presentation.

Approximately $12 million of the project could be funded through PPEL/SAVE dollars, and the district could potentially issue a voter-approved general obligation bond referendum for $22.8 million. These figures are based on the percentage of bonding capacity the district currently holds, but the district may also elect to bond for a lower amount.

“When we’re doing projects, we want to make sure it’s the best thing possible for students and staff, it’s fiscally responsible and the community will support it,” SitelogIQ’s Jeff Herzberg said. “Those are the three biggest questions we’re trying to answer when we’re working with you. This is a potential starting point for conversation.”

The board could decide to have SitelogIQ return for a work session to further review the plan.

In other business, the board:

• approved a consent agenda that included the hiring of Vera Marckmann as an elementary cook and the resignation of Alex Alstott as assistant baseball coach

• approved a series of board policies as well as contract language for the school business official