Somers school district asks for levy for maintenance
Long standing deferred maintenance projects, safety upgrades and staffing needs have led the Somers School District to ask for a $185,000 levy.
Lakeside Elementary School and Somers Middle School are in need of repairs, safety upgrades and increased staffing, superintendent Paul Jenkins said.
A levy would enable the school district to address problems at both schools. “I feel pretty passionate and unwavering in my belief that we need it,” Jenkins said.
Two of the major facility concerns at the middle school are tile floors that contain asbestos and need replacing, and a restroom that needs to be renovated so it is disabled accessible. There are also doors that need to be replaced, the heater connection to the gym needs to be fixed, and the asphalt repaired, Jenkins said.
The flooring and asbestos removal is estimated to cost about $18,000 and the bathroom $24,000.
At Lakeside Elementary the gym windows, gutters and playground equipment need to be replaced. Though the school building is about 17 years old, the seals on 19 of the gym windows have broken, Jenkins said. The window replacement is estimated to cost about $8,000 and the gutters $10,000.
The playground equipment is also wearing out, though the district is still waiting for a quote on cost. “The playground equipment is rotting and breaking,” Jenkins said.
Repairs are also needed on the roofing, boiler room plumbing and some replacement desks and carpets are needed, he said.
Both schools are looking to increase safety measures with security alert systems and window coverings.
“We’ve been working on upgrading safety,” Jenkins said. The security system would cost about $1,900 for each school. Window coverings for three rooms would cost about $2,800.
The main staffing need at the middle school is a third math teacher. Jenkins said if they are able to hire that math teacher it will allow them to add a language class, which the schools need to stay in compliance with accreditation standards.
A full list of items the levy would cover, as well as estimated costs, is outlined on the school district website.
The last successful levy for the school was in 2006. They school had another levy in 2013 for general operations that failed. Some of the feedback from that levy, Jenkins said, was the school wasn’t specific enough in its needs.
Jenkins encourages the public to come to open houses, ask questions and read the information on the Somers school district website.
There will be two open houses to address the levy. The first will be April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Somers Middle School. The second will be April 13 at 6:30 p.m. at Lakeside Elementary. Both open houses will offer tours of the facilities.
If this levy fails Jenkins said the district would “tighten their belts” and take care of what they could on the priority list, with any funds remaining at the end of the school year.
If the levy passes Jenkins said they still may not be able to take care of everything on their list, but it would give them more flexibility.
If the levy passes the projects would be completed over the summer.
“These needs are really continuing. To put them off will only cost more later on,” Jenkins said. “We can’t ignore the safety needs of our students. Everyone benefits when schools are supported and we want to do what we can to make this site appealing.”
Registered voters will be able to vote on the levy on May 5.