Forty-year-old classrooms and doors that remain unlocked all day long— these are just two of the many reasons why renovations are needed at Washington High School, according to District 308 School Board members.
And, after the board’s annual special planning meeting Saturday, the district is one step closer to making the $10.2-million renovation/construction plans a reality.
The board met with BLDD architects for about an hour of the meeting and created a timeframe to ensure the referendum will be placed on the November ballot.
The board will address the plans once again Feb. 8 at next month’s school board meeting, take it to community leaders the first week in March, and approve the plan and ballot question March 8.
After voters rejected a $18.4-million referendum in April 2009, the board was told they “needed to maximize the educational dollars of the referendum,” said board president Jim Gerkin.
“This plan has been rammed through a sifter,” Gerkin said. “I am very comfortable in the direction that we’re heading,”
The first-floor plan includes a new kitchen and multi-purpose room, along with a new Jefferson Street entrance. In addition, the current commons room in the basement would be transformed into business classrooms and computer labs. The second floor would include nine renovated science classrooms.
Superintendent Jim Dunnan suggested the possibility of using $1 million of the district’s working cash to reduce the cost of the referendum to $9.2.
Gerkin said the plan would also provide accessibility for disabled students in the building.
“We have more disabled students than ever,” Gerkin said. “And we can’t get them around the school. This is going to solve a lot of these problems, as well.”
Board member Gloria McNett praised the district efforts but said not every issue has been addressed.
“I think we have made significant strides in identifying the needs in this district,” McNett said. “I think as we moved forward, whatever our final decision is from this board, we also need to make the public aware of what we have not been able to do. There are still needs out there.”
McNett said the band and chorus room and locker rooms are areas that still need updated.
“We took on such a big task,” she said. “But the job isn’t done.”
Washington, Ill. —
