By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Four site plans for school building improvement projects were approved Feb. 2 by the village’s Site Plan Review Committee.
Those improvements, which are authorized as part of a $10.05 million capital referendum Ashwaubenon School District voters approved last April, include work at the Cormier School and Early Learning Center, Valley View Elementary School, Pioneer Elementary School and Ashwaubenon High School.
Along with adding air conditioning throughout Valley View, Pioneer and the high school, as well as safety and security improvements at Cormier and Pioneer; the capital referendum also authorized: facility and building infrastructure updates and site improvements; and the acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment.
Joe Finger of Brander Engineering, the district’s firm for the facility improvement projects, and Tom Schmitt, school facilities and maintenance coordinator, appeared before the committee to answer questions.
Community Development Director Aaron Schuette said the plan at Cormier calls for two building additions, a new student drop-off loop and playground replacement.
He said an office addition is planned at Cormier near the existing entrance to provide a secure entrance to the building, while an addition at the north end of the school will provide additional rest rooms and entrances for students dropped off by a bus or a parent.
Schuette said the new student drop-off loop will be installed north of the parking lot with driveway access to Center Street, and a bus loading area will be created on the west side of South Broadway.
He said a vegetated biofilter will be located in the center of the drop-off loop to accommodate stormwater management.
Schuette said conditions include extending curbing around the entire drop-off loop and screening all new ground-mounted or rooftop mechanical units from view of neighboring properties or the street right-of-way.
He said heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements at Valley View will involve replacing or modifying the existing HVAC systems to install air conditioning where it is not provided in the school.
Schuette said new ductwork and mechanical equipment will be placed on the roof of the school.
He said the addition to the office at Pioneer will be located on the southwest corner of the existing building and include a new vestibule entrance.
Schuette said minor modifications will be made to the existing parking lot, including the replacement of interior sidewalks, water main replacement and curb and gutter replacement near the existing bus drop-off.
In addition, he said the existing HVAC systems will be replaced or modified to provide air conditioning throughout the school.
Schuette said HVAC systems at the high school are also being replaced or modified to provide air conditioning throughout the building.
Cost estimates, bids
Of the $10.05 million capital referendum, estimates obtained by the district placed the cost of installing air conditioning at the three schools at $4.35 million.
The work related to improving school security at Cormier and Pioneer was estimated at $3.9 million.
Tom Schmitt, buildings and grounds coordinator for the school district said the projects could begin this spring or summer, depending on how disruptive the work would be with students in school.
He said installing air conditioning might take place over one or two summers.
Schmitt said the work that could be done this year should be finished before students return in the fall to start the 2021-22 school year.
The district also estimated it would cost another $1.8 million for updating the facilities to remove asbestos, repair the Pioneer gym foundation, repair the high school track, replace three gym floors, replace light fixtures in the gyms and replace windows and doors at Parkview Middle School.
Schmitt said much of that work was completed last year, while asbestos removal would be part of installing new ductwork.