When they met Wednesday night, members of the Leavenworth Board of Education heard about proposed designs for renovations at several school buildings as well as the construction of a new elementary building.
The work is proposed as part of a $57.8-million bond issue that will be put before voters in the Leavenworth school district in the Nov. 4 election.
Gordon Kimble of Horst, Terrill & Karst Architects said plans for Anthony Elementary School call for several additions to the existing building.
The plans call for three additions for classrooms. The plans also call for additions for a gymnasium, kitchen and administrative offices.
He said portions of the existing building also would undergo either minor and major remodeling.
The design would give Anthony a multipurpose room that could be used for dining, which would be located in an area of the existing building. Superintendent Kelly Harris said this room would free up the gym from having to be used for lunch. She said scheduling can be an issue when a gym is being used for physical education classes and meals.
However, students at Anthony eat lunch in their classrooms with teachers as part of the school’s Eat, Exercise, Excel program.
“Does that mean we will no longer eat in classrooms when we have the two spaces?” asked board member John Chapman.
“Perhaps,” Harris said.
Kimble said plans for David Brewer Elementary School include a few additions for things such as classrooms, a new gymnasium and administrative offices.
He said portions of the existing building will undergo either minor or major remodeling.
David Brewer also would end up with a multipurpose room that could be used for dining.
Kimble said the new elementary school, which would be constructed at 20th and Vilas streets if the bond issue passes, could accommodate up to 520 students. The design calls for three classrooms for each grade for kindergarten through the fifth grade.
Harris said the design of the school is still a work in progress.
Kimble also reviewed a proposed design for renovations at Leavenworth High School.
“The high school is like a 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle right now,” he said.
He said the school has a maze feeling. He said architects are tasked with giving the school a more logical layout.
Kimble said the high school has a lot of small rooms that aren’t the best size for classrooms. He said rooms will be expanded. The plans also call for a few additions to the building.
Students at the high school have to step outside as they walk from the main building to a vocational building. But Harris said the renovation work would connect the two buildings.
Kimble also reviewed a proposed design for an activity center that would be located on high school grounds. The design calls for a new football stadium with artificial turf and two concession stands.
There also would be a practice field, additional parking and a building with lockers for football.
Kimble also presented a drawing of a proposed reinterpretation of the arch located at Abeles Field, where varsity football games are now played.
He said it would be logistically impossible to move the concrete arch from Abeles, so architects are proposing to create a new one at the high school.
Kimble also presented board members with estimates for the construction and renovation work. The estimated total was $58.6 million. This exceeds the amount being sought for the bond issue.
Kevin Gullett, chief financial officer for the district, explained Thursday that the design work is still in the conceptual stage. He said some things will change, reducing the cost to within the $57.8 million being sought for the bond issue.
“It’s still early in the development,” he said.
In other business:
* DONATIONS — Family members of Army Spc. William Mulvihill, who was killed Aug. 1 in Afghanistan, were on hand for a presentation during Wednesday’s meeting.
Charles Raney, Mulvihill’s father, said a $5,000 donation was being made to the Junior ROTC program at Leavenworth High School. Mulvihill participated in the program while attending high school.
The money was donated by the Graco Foundation. Raney said Mulvihill’s biological father, John Mulvihill, has a connection to Graco.
Raney also presented two other donations that had been received, one in the amount of $1,115 and the other in the amount of $3,000.
“We cannot express our gratitude enough,” said Cadet 2nd Lt. Emily Jones, battalion executive officer for the JROTC program.
She said the money will be put to great use.
* TUCKPOINTING — Board members approved a bid for tuckpointing and sealing the exteriors of the Ben Day School and district service center.
Board members accepted a bid from MTS Contracting for $30,334. The district had received another bid from Restoration & Waterproofing Contractors for $45,542.
The vote to accept the MTS bid was 5-2. Board member Danny Zeck voted against the motion. Board member Steve Fitzgerald abstained. An abstention is counted as a vote against a motion.
* RECOGNITION — Board members recognized the first group of teachers to complete a master’s degree program offered as a partnership between the school district and Baker University.
Board members also recognized Anthony Elementary School personnel after the school placed third on a health magazine list of the 10 healthiest schools in the United States.
* EXECUTIVE SESSIONS — Board members spent more than an hour meeting behind closed doors.
They first went into executive session to consult with an attorney for about 26 minutes. The executive session was extended for 15 minutes and then an additional 20 minutes, according to Gullett, who also serves as the board clerk.
Board President Linda Larison said one of the board members recused himself from the executive session.
Gullett said board vice president Duane Denney remained out of an executive session at one point. Gullett said he did not know the reason.
Board members also met in executive session to discuss personnel for 15 minutes, Gullett said.
Leavenworth, Kan. —
