Schools

Board Budgets for Long-term School Repairs

The Board of Education anticipates top-priority capital projects to cost the district nearly $6.5 million over the next seven years.

For the Board of Education, the financial focus may be on next year's proposed $72 million budget, but the spending doesn't end there. Long-term capital expenditures have already come under review; and over the next seven years, the board anticipates spending a near $6.5 million on school repairs and refurbishments alone.

"This time each year we present our long-rage plan," said Director of Facilities Paul Engemann. "We try to project what things we need and try to plug them into the years that we might need them."

Maintaining Darien's public school facilities is a never-ending project. Economic uncertainty, regulatory changes and fluctuations in enrollment make planning ahead difficult and prioritizing major expenditures, a priority in and of itself. Capital projects for the next seven years will cost the district nearly $6.5 million dollars; so while the board struggles to streamline the 2010-11 proposed budget, with major capital projects totaling $1.14 million, major capital spending has yet to come.

"The plan changes, and it's not perfect, but it's an important tool—a road map," said Engemann.

Year-to-year plans allow for some change; those projects that aren't pressing take a backseat, especially when purse strings are tight as they are this year. But long-range plans are less flexible, as they only include those classifed as "Priority Level 1" for health, safety and cost effectiveness reasons.

Per Engemann's plan, the most expensive years will be 2014-14 and 2014-15, due in large part to the necessary replacement of 20-year-old underground oil tanks at each of the elementary schools.

"Codes require us to replace them. That's one we're not going to be able to shift around a lot," said Engemann.

Replacement will cost $75,000 at each school, Holmes being the exception. The school has a smaller tank, replacement of which will cost $50,000.

Engemann also highlighted various Automated HVAC control projects, slated to cost $200,000 and take place throughout the next seven years; and a $600,000 door and window replacement project at Ox Ridge School.

The plan is subject to change. New projects may come up, and others may be deferred, said Engemann. Moreover, all anticipated costs are in today's dollars, and potential State reimbursement costs are not reflected in the plan. Still, said Board of Ed. Chairman Kimberly Westcott, the plan serves as an "important tool."

"We don't love the numbers when we see them, " said Westcott, "but at least we know what's coming up when; so it's a very important tool."

District's Anticipated Long-Term Capital Expenditures Per Year

  • 2010-11: $1,140,300
  • 2011-12:  $525,000
  • 2012-13: $1,026,000
  • 2013-14: $1,255,000
  • 2014-15: $1,260,000
  • 2015-16: $585,000
  • 2016-17: $700,000
    • Total: $6,491,300


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