During a recent Site Committee discussion, school district leaders explored several facility updates and logistical plans for the coming academic year, including the installation of camera systems in two recently acquired school buses and strategies for managing rising construction costs.
The district plans to install camera systems in two buses before they are put into service. The total cost for equipping both vehicles with the same CANAS system currently used in the transportation complex is $10,038. Installation will be handled by the same provider to ensure consistency and reliability.
On the construction front, estimates for updates to the high school site raised concerns due to unexpectedly high labor and materials costs. One proposal, including district labor, came in around $760,000—well above initial expectations.
A sense of urgency emerged around scheduling contractors for next year’s building project tied to the school’s agricultural education program. While the location and plan for the upcoming year are set, district leaders emphasized the importance of booking foundation work immediately to avoid costly delays, as experienced in previous years.
Board member Josh Maher said, “We can’t call in July or August and expect things to happen on time, we need to get on people’s schedules now.”
Discussions also referenced past inflated estimates for projects like the bus barn facility, which were eventually reduced significantly once more detailed planning occurred. The committee acknowledged the need to act quickly if they hope to stay on track for potential construction beginning as early as this fall.
A follow-up meeting may be scheduled in the coming weeks to solidify plans and begin outreach to contractors and architects.