Greater Jasper School Corp: Major projects to commence for summer

The Greater Consolidated Jasper School Corporation has several major projects to be completed this summer.

Clerk of the Works Scott Stenftenagel of the Stenftenagel Group told the board that the three main projects for the summers months will be started next week after classes are dismissed for the summer.

Those projects include the air handler replacement project ($328,000) and the roof replacement project ($171,000), both at the high school, and the Fifth Street roof replacement project ($40,000).

All three projects were approved at the March board meeting.

Stenftenagel also requested $135,086.00 to replace the entire lighting system in the Jasper High School Auditorium.
According to Stenftenagel, the system has been there for decades and no longer works properly.

The new system will feature LED lighting which will eliminate the need for color gels. Additionally, the constant need to replace bulbs will go away as LED lights are expected to last at least 10 years.

The board passed an approval for the system to be installed by low bidder Weyer Electric, who will team up with contractor Vincent Lighting.

Stenftenagel also reported the construction on the foundation for the expansion at Ireland Elementary should begin this week as long as the weather doesn’t interfere.

Superintendent Dr. Tracey Lorey recommended that the school board begin to take up the issue of the feasibility study for the school district’s future needs for expansion. She told the board that they would be working with Gibraltar Designs once again.

In conjunction, the board will hold a meeting with their advisor on their current debt service so that the board has an idea of how to proceed if another school construction project comes up sooner, rather than later.

The board also:

-Approved spending $31,504.00 on 32 new computers for Project Lead the Way in the Middle School.

-Heard from Lorey that the eLearning remote teaching program tested this year will be used again next spring.

-Approved $17,405 for some new band instrument cases to replace ones that are showing signs of wear and tear and have become nearly unusable.