Building Project Community Meeting Fieldcrest High School February 18, :30 pm

Introductions Mr. Tom Barth, Board member Mr. Greg Kroeschen, Board member Mr. John Bishop, Farnsworth, district architect Ms. Leanne Skuse, River City, construction manager

Purpose of Meeting The purpose of tonight’s meeting is intended to: ◦ Inform the community of where the Board currently stands in regard to a building project ◦ Inform the community of the next steps in the building project ◦ Provide community with opportunity to submit and answer questions ◦ Present options to the community for the building project and feedback on options

Procedures for tonight As information is provided tonight, if you have questions, please write the question on a slip of paper and hand to persons collecting questions. Questions will be answered later in the program, or will be held for answering when it is possible to do so. Answers to submitted questions will be placed on the district website.

Recent events Various conversations and meetings Meetings with community leaders Board conclusion that centralized location is not electable at this time No plans to locate any school building in centralized location for this building project Also clear that each community with a current building desires to maintain a building in the community

Board’s current stance Whatever the building project turns out to be, ◦ The Board intends that there will be a building located in each town – Minonk, Toluca, & Wenona ◦ There is no impetus toward further discussion of a centralized location with this Board during this building project

Information we have so far Costs for any project will be developed and confirmed by two separate firms Costs projected for East and HS renovations are near or at the same value of replacement of each Costs projects for South and West renovations, while expensive, are not nearly as high or close to replacement costs

Information 2 Plan at this time is to renovate South and West – current thought is to use these buildings for more years If the cost of renovations reaches 50% of replacement value, then previously grandfathered ADA code, sprinkler code, and storm shelter requirements kick in Cost of renovations at South and West are not anticipated to approach this limit

Information 3 Additions to buildings at South and West were completed in 2001/2002, and some concurrent renovations were completed, so less concerns about state of those buildings Cost of renovations at East and HS are expected to easily cross the 50% line Therefore, renovation only of East and HS are not currently under consideration

Next steps Next question – what happens at East and HS? Building Committee is putting forth two options for community consideration and input Equity across East and HS is a consideration in options presented

Option 1 – Build completely new Build a new building in Minonk and a new building in Wenona The new buildings would be at sites yet to be determined, but located in Minonk and Wenona Old buildings would be completely razed A course of action for the current properties would be developed

Option 2 – New additions Build additions to current HS and East buildings Space for additions is available at each site Determination would have to be made what parts of buildings are usable with lower cost or no renovations This would drive what is kept, what is razed, and what is built in the additions

Potential obstacles – Option 1 Option 1 – new buildings ◦ Location and cost of land ◦ Utilities connection costs ◦ Connections to public roadways/turn lanes – possible light signals – IDOT?

Potential obstacles – Option 2 Option 2 – additions to current buildings ◦ At East  Addition might have to use part of current baseball field – where does baseball field go?  Addition would likely go off end of gym/north corridor – does that cause problems with gym usability during construction?  Outdoor PE?  Need to move/raze bus garage?  Will playground be usable?

Potential obstacles – Option 2 cont. ◦ At HS  Enough space for addition, but tight fit while construction happening?  Entryway to the school changes streets?  Parking lot/bus parking space?  Will gym be usable during construction?  Outdoor PE?

Complicating factors Referendum price tag will have to include costs for new building/addition, razing of buildings, any land/utility costs, plus possibly costs for renovation at South/West – complicated project w/4 buildings included Intent is to spread costs over years, but getting another referendum for more work in that time frame is highly unlikely – planning must encompass long-term solutions for South/West buildings that will be in use for more years, at least

Complicating factors 2 Pressure from decennial health/life safety survey puts a time factor on decision- making process Most pressing items must be done in approximately one year from approval of survey by ISBE

Referendum/bonding scope Ballot language will be fairly specific on location(s), project scope, and dollar amount to be bonded If referendum is approved, what is approved on the ballot is locked in Bonding based on approved referendum can only be spent on the projects described in the referendum

Summary Centralized concept off the table District seeking direction Option 1 – new buildings HS and East Option 2 – additions at HS and East Renovations at South and West required

Community input Asking which direction community prefers we develop, as costs for developing two approaches is prohibitive Impossible at this time to provide anything more than broad scope on either option until approach is developed Asking for community to provide direction ◦ Option 1 for all new buildings ◦ Option 2 for additions to usable East and HS

Question session Hand questions to person collecting

Community preference You had the opportunity to pick up a colored dot on arrival There are two posters in the room – one for Option 1, the other for Option 2 Place your dot on the poster which you would prefer to see the district develop If you have no preference, you may choose not to place a dot on a poster Count of choices will be made Results will be used to direct next steps

Reminder Option 1 – all new buildings for East and High School Option 2 – additions to current East and High School

Thank you Thank you for your input, and have a great evening!