Advisory Committee for Sigourney High School Facility Improvements Now Open to Public

SIGOURNEY – During the Jan. 8 meeting of the Sigourney School Board, the board met with Pat Westby of SitelogIQ, the company overseeing the planned infrastructure update at the Jr./Sr. High School, to discuss plans to create a Community Facility Advisory Committee (CFAC) to advise the board on the planned work. A similar committee advised the board during the planning stages of the elementary infrastructure update. Westby stressed that it was vital to receive input from the public. He noted that the committee will serve an advisory role and that all final decisions will be up to the board.

The current plan is for the CFAC to have seven meetings on Wednesday nights, beginning in February, and present their recommendations to the board during the May school board meeting. The committee will be open to all members of the public, including parents, community members, business owners, and more. To be a part of the CFAC, members of the public can apply at https://bit.ly/scsd-taskforce before Jan. 30.

Secondary Principal Shannon Webb asked if staff, administrators or board members would be a part of the CFAC, noting that staff members would want a say in changes to the school. Westby stated that board members being part of the CFAC could give the perception they were leading or influencing the committee, and that this needed to be the community’s group. He stated that SiteLogIQ will hold ideation meetings with staff to receive their input.

Board member Adam Clark asked if the community would be given access to the facility assessment created by SiteLogIQ, which contains detailed information on where improvements are needed for “nuts and bolts” areas like electrical and HVAC systems. Westby stated the CFAC would be shown the assessment, and that committees like this invariable list having a healthy and safe environment as one of their top priorities. Superintendent Kevin Hatfield stated the CFAC for the elementary advised that they fix what needed to be fixed and became ambassadors for the project.

Webb asked if the CFAC members would be told the costs for specific parts of the project. Westby stated the wouldn’t be, because that could lead to the committee arguing about what to do and how to best spend money, which is the duty of the school board. He stated the goal was to have the CFAC give their priorities on what needs to be done, not to decide the specifics of the project. Board member Tim Bruns asked if students could be part of the CFAC. Westby stated they could, and that it was powerful when students presented to the board. He also stated that ideation would be held with students.

Also at the Wednesday meeting, the board spoke with Tyler Overt of TRANE HVAC, who gave an overview of the new HVAC system at the elementary school. Overt showed the monitoring system, which records data on temperature and power use for specific rooms over time, mentioned issues with one heating unit, and explained that the new HVAC system lets in fresh air from outside the school. Elementary teacher Jenny Gay noted that the fresh air can lead her room and the teacher’s lounge to be frigid.

Elementary Principal Deanna Spence stated that the elementary school had started having time for silent reading or homework help for kids who don’t eat breakfast or want to stand outside, from 8:00-8:15 in the morning. She stated that 16-20 kids were coming for homework help, which is overseen by an associate and parent volunteers.

Hatfield stated there had been requests for more bus stops in the morning at daycares, and that the board would need to discuss this. He stated it can be difficult to have more stops before school starts, and that this could be a slippery slope as more and more daycares are added. Currently, there are five daycares the buses stop at.