Pekin Board Discusses Facility Improvement Bond

PACKWOOD – During the June 10 meeting of the Pekin School Board, Superintendent Jeff Maeder discussed touching base about planned facility improvements at the elementary school. He stated that work can begin next summer at the earliest and that there is a good chance the district will have to scale back plans. Business Manager Cherie Westendorf stated that the facility improvements will likely need a bond vote for funding. Maeder stated that the board needs to decide if they want to spend money for design work now, or after going to the community for a bond vote to pay for the facility improvement. Maeder stated that, in his opinion, it would be better to wait until after the November bond vote before starting design work. He stated that the district needs to get moving, because prices keep going up, but noted that the district can get cost estimates without having a full design. He proposed getting the design work done after the vote, which would likely allow the district to go to bid in January or February and start next summer.

Maeder also brought up playground improvements. He stated that estimates from February put the cost of replacing the blacktop at $170,000-$180,000 and quotes from November-January put the cost at replacing the equipment in the $274,000-$398,000 range. Maeder noted that one of the slides needed to be removed and that the playground has a hole that had to be blocked off.

The board approved purchasing new stage lighting. Maeder stated that the district had not yet received a concrete bid for the bleacher replacement, but was expected to get one soon. He stated that bleachers will arrive the week of August 19, close to when the first football game will be held. The board approved sharing a librarian with Sigourney.

The board was introduced to new Elementary Principal Liz Goodwin. Former Elementary Principal Jenny Bell said her goodbyes, with several board members saying they appreciated all she had done. “I’m going to miss the kids and everybody that I’ve got to work with. It’s been a privilege,” said Bell.