Laptops lead the ticket in school capital budget

Mar. 21—Schools across the county will see upgrades in the coming school year as part of a $1.25 million capital improvement plan.

The capital projects were approved by the school board last week as part of the budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The capital budget is funded from a portion of state sale tax proceeds specifically earmarked for school capital needs.

The single biggest expense is $350,000 from the capital budget for student laptops. The expense is a recurring one to replace a portion of student laptops every year on a rolling basis.

Assistant Superintendent Graham Haynes presented a breakdown of how the funds will be spent.

—The Canton Middle School heating system will be changed from boiler heat to propane at a cost of $90,000.

—The fire alarm system at Clyde Elementary School will be upgraded at a cost of $105,000.

—The maintenance department will replace its plumber truck for $80,000 and spare bard units will cost another $20,000.

—The roof of the Haywood Community Learning Center will be replaced for $60,000.

—Replacing the Riverbend Elementary School chiller unit is budgeted at $200,000.

—Paving at both Pisgah and Tuscola high schools will upgrade the PHS tennis court, and pave the parking lot and drive lane at THS at a projected cost of $345,000.

Since the school capital budget is funded from state sales tax, the amount has been growing year over year — both from increased consumer spending among locals and more visitors coming to the county, Haynes said.

Another capital need that was slated for next year's budget will actually be checked off the list this year after major leaks developed in the Bethel Middle School roof over the winter.

"Usually projects have a decent amount of savings," Haynes said, "so when we looked at the budget we shifted things around and can complete that project in June out of the year's budget."

The good news was that the roof replacement was projected to cost $140,000, but the Bonitz Company bid came in at $102,000, allowing several other portions of the school's roof to be included in the contract.

While the Haywood Community Learning Center has been relocated from Hazelwood into the former Central Elementary School, the roof on its former building is getting a badly needed repair.

That's because the facility is now being leased to the SOAR Academy for $2,500. Since the private school academy also leases space in the nextdoor Folkmoot Center, using a portion of the school-owned building makes sense, Haynes said.

"It's beneficial to both parties," he said. "They said they would move their high school age students there and the middle school students would do their normal classwork at Folkmoot."

Haynes said while there are always upgrades and repairs needed at school facilities, the capital projects budget addresses the most pressing ones.

"There are always unmet needs, but are there things we have to have right now, no," he said. "In that sense we're good."