Referendum support to fund a host of school improvements
Our Town Niagara
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NIAGARA, Wis. -- The Niagara School District has a number of items on its building plan to upgrade and replace aging systems as well as add appeal to the school.
Superintendent Nate Burklund said district officials began having weekly building and video meetings with Miron Construction of Neenah, Wis., and U.P. Engineering & Architects, Inc. of Houghton once the $3.95 million building referendum was approved in the Nov. 3 election.
All the projects in the building plan will be on pace for completion before the 2021-22 school year begins in the fall. Some of the smaller projects can be completed quickly, but others must wait until students no longer are in school, he said.
He believes the new bleachers, resurfaced track, new flooring and furnishings will appeal most to students and parents.
While some of the changes will be very visible, others aim to improve building efficiency. These larger projects, such as revamping the heating system, have the highest costs but Burklund said "We hope to see a return in dollars and cents through better efficiency."
Heating system improvements include replacing the district's 28-year-old boilers. The pneumatic controls will be converted to digital, which will complete an upgrade on the building's automation system.
The existing air handling unit, also 28 years old, will be replaced as well.
Several other building systems will be updated, too, including a new service for the alarm system, installing a better water heater and replacing remaining old plumbing fixtures.
The bell and fire alarm systems will be changed.
Roof repairs and drainage improvements will help with leaks the district has dealt with over the years. Water damage will be repaired in the library and other areas of the school.
Flooring will be replaced in several parts of the elementary, middle and high schools. Wood floors in the gymnasiums will be refinished, as well as the stage floor. The gym will have new bleachers, the auditorium new curtains.
Additional work planned includes: renovating the high school computer classroom, creating two informal learning areas, converting a portion of the FACE classroom to a collaborative learning environment and replacing a wall between the middle school gym and the weight room with a safety window, adding code-compliant access to the film area in the auditorium, constructing a new storage building, and replacing the garage and shipping/receiving doors.
Technology will be increased to give the district nearly a one-to-one ratio of devices to students, he said.
Niagara has worked hard to stay open during the pandemic and Burklund acknowledged the diligent work of the teachers in making that possible.
He also was grateful to the community and staff for supporting the referendum.
"Our staff's efforts and the support from the community in passing the two-question referendum speaks to the importance of education in Niagara. As a school district, we recognize that we are the hub of the community. Passing a referendum during a pandemic speaks volumes to our relationship with our families and the community," he said.