Roof damage may see summer repair
Eldorado school board appears to be looking at roof replacement on portions of the school buildings this summer.
"It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of," Principal and Superintendent Ryan Hobbs said of the high school roof situation.
The roof above his office and above the next door library has sustained cuts, in multiple places. Hobbs is hesitant to blame vandalizing students. Architect Ed Kerkhover said he sees no other possibility. The rubber roof is stabbed and sliced as though by a person wielding a knife. The damage is at an area where someone could step out an upper window and gain access to the roof and is not in a position to receive falling ice or any other natural material.
"It seems impossible to me that it was vandalism," Hobbs said.
Eldorado Police have investigated and the school's insurance company has been made aware, and Hobbs said the decision was made not to make an insurance claim. The district has made three or four insurance claims in recent years regarding freezers going down. The district has raised the insurance deductible to $10,000.
"I don't have another explanation for you. Look at the library roof. There are nicks all over that thing," Kerkhover said.
Regardless of the cause, the roof will need to be replaced, but perhaps a more pressing roof fix involves the elementary school. Multiple rooms and hallways drip rainwater.
"We re-drywall religiously ever summer," Principal Blake Bradley said.
Bradley said a soaking rain inevitably blows out ceiling tiles in some classrooms.
Kerkhover believes the roof fasteners are good, but foam material underneath the fasteners may be deficient. He has looked beneath the roof and found areas warped from water getting in.
Kerkhover also said roofing above the high school kitchen will need replacing. He said an air conditioner condensing unit was installed about two years ago and the roof at that area is leaking.
Kerkhover said he sometimes feels like a "Scrooge" delivering bad news regarding the school buildings, but had more less-than-welcome news regarding the district's idea of building a storage building in the courtyard at the middle school. Kerkhover said he would like to consult the Illinois Fire Marshal's Office before any construction commences. He said his fear is that the building could go up just to be ordered down in the case it affects any emergency exit route.
Kerkhover also discussed flooring issues at the elementary school, suggesting the board consider vinyl plank flooring in the portion of the school where the public enters the gym. That type tile is more expensive - $11,000 to $13,000 versus the $5,000 of the existing tile - but is more durable.
District technology director T.J. Zurliene informed the board of an opportunity to replace the phone systems in the district and save $650 to $800 per month. He said switching soon would be practical as the district will be losing its E-Rate reimbursement. E-Rate will reimburse 60 percent this year, 40 percent next year, 20 percent the year after that and then cease to provide any reimbursement.
Zurliene said Phone Max of Pittsburg has said it can replace the phones for $60,000 rather than the $100,000 that might be expected and it can be paid for with the 1 percent school facilities tax. He said he needs to find out a few details regarding the fire alarm system before the board can approve the plan.
U.S. Route 45 access
The board is considering the possibility of an access to the sports complex directly from U.S. Route 45. There is a farm road in that area, but considerable work would need to be done before it could be developed into a public road.
The board is discussing the possibility of gating the road and opening it only for the public to have more convenience to sporting events.
Board President Keith Oglesby voiced opposition to the idea.
"That road is pitiful now. We haven't maintained it and now we're going to add on to it?" Oglesby said.
Oglesby said he would need a lot of convincing before supporting the idea.
Board member Stacy James said the board has scheduled a meeting with Illinois Department of Transportation. IDOT is working on a plan to widen the highway to five lanes. James said the school may have missed it's opportunity.
"We missed the window. We should have done it in comments," James said.
State aid
Hobbs gave some positive news regarding state aid. The state cut 2.25 percent of state aid for this year, but then gave schools in poverty areas back a considerable amount of that money.
"It looked like we were going to lose $150,000, but now it's to only around $30,000," Hobbs said after the meeting.
Teams succeed
Miranda Cain said the school's speech team in its first year ranked third or better in five of its six competitions.
Two students advanced to sectional tournaments.
Scholar Bowl coach Matt Allen reported the high school ended its season with a 10 win four loss record.
"We were seeded third in the state under Woodlawn and Nashville," Allen said
The board gave permission to the Math Club to visit St. Louis, the FFA to visit out of state either to Holiday World or a baseball game in St. Louis, for the Beta Clubs to attend the national convention and the Art Club to visit the Evansville Zoo.
The Art Club painted and sold pumpkins to raise money to buy about 50 food baskets for people in the community.
"We think giving back to the community is really important because that helps our students," club member Karma Alvey said.
During the meeting, the board:
Approved the non-reemployment of fourth year teacher Richard Ozment;
Approved the honorable dismissal of part-time math teacher Larry Pierson with board member Preston Justice voting no.
Approved the honorable dismissal of first year full time teacher Angie Cox.
Approved the honorable dismissal of full time paraprofessional John Fuller.
Approved the honorable dismissal of full time paraprofessional Cynthia Bergman.
Approved granting tenure to fourth year teacher Maloree Tippett.
Named Cody Cusic curriculum director, transportation director and responsible for other administrative duties as determined by the board.