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Plans to renovate Hilltop approved
Board proceeds with project for virtual school
By Jennifer McDaniel, jennifermcdaniel@miconews.com
A plan to renovate the Hilltop Education Center as a location for the Spring Hill school district’s online school and a future home to other district offices was approved by the USD 230 Spring Hill Board of Education Monday night.
But with limited capital outlay funds, board members are concerned with just how the district will manage the cost to convert the building to house Insight Schools of Kansas this fall.
Last month, board members got their first glimpses of simple line drawings showing proposals to convert the former elementary school into a functioning building with office areas and computer workstations. Much of the work involved adding new carpet and lighting, upgrading the building’s electrical work and painting.
Early cost estimates presented to the board Monday night total $187,244 to remodel the building. Additional improvements including asphalt patching and overlay and rebuilding the school’s chimney would add an extra $55,537 to the project’s cost. Superintendent Bart Goering said he recommended focusing solely on readying the building for Insight and make other improvements later in the year as time allows.
To keep costs down, Goering also suggested that the district manage the project itself and hire subcontractors. He stressed the district would not have a problem affording the cost to renovate the aging building.
“Whatever we take out of capital outlay, we’ll put back in through capital improvement money and enrollment,” he said.
Goering said he predicted the district could recoup the funds it spent on the project within a year. Officials were told additional money could come from a lease agreement between the district and Insight Schools Inc. Though that agreement is still being finalized, officials are anticipating $75,000 from Insight to cover costs.
Once the project is finished, Goering said he could provide the board with a detailed list showing how much money was spent.
“We really need a final accounting of how much was spent so we could answer the questions with accuracy,” Board Member Eric Valaika said.
Asked whether the district will come under the project estimate, Goering told officials it would “absolutely” be below estimates.
“This has been talked about for a long time,” Board Member Eric Boyle said. “It’s a no-brainer.”
While the district is making renovations primarily for Insight, by making those improvements now, Goering said, it gives the district another building to use to meet needs.
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But with limited capital outlay funds, board members are concerned with just how the district will manage the cost to convert the building to house Insight Schools of Kansas this fall.
Last month, board members got their first glimpses of simple line drawings showing proposals to convert the former elementary school into a functioning building with office areas and computer workstations. Much of the work involved adding new carpet and lighting, upgrading the building’s electrical work and painting.
Early cost estimates presented to the board Monday night total $187,244 to remodel the building. Additional improvements including asphalt patching and overlay and rebuilding the school’s chimney would add an extra $55,537 to the project’s cost. Superintendent Bart Goering said he recommended focusing solely on readying the building for Insight and make other improvements later in the year as time allows.
To keep costs down, Goering also suggested that the district manage the project itself and hire subcontractors. He stressed the district would not have a problem affording the cost to renovate the aging building.
“Whatever we take out of capital outlay, we’ll put back in through capital improvement money and enrollment,” he said.
Goering said he predicted the district could recoup the funds it spent on the project within a year. Officials were told additional money could come from a lease agreement between the district and Insight Schools Inc. Though that agreement is still being finalized, officials are anticipating $75,000 from Insight to cover costs.
Once the project is finished, Goering said he could provide the board with a detailed list showing how much money was spent.
“We really need a final accounting of how much was spent so we could answer the questions with accuracy,” Board Member Eric Valaika said.
Asked whether the district will come under the project estimate, Goering told officials it would “absolutely” be below estimates.
“This has been talked about for a long time,” Board Member Eric Boyle said. “It’s a no-brainer.”
While the district is making renovations primarily for Insight, by making those improvements now, Goering said, it gives the district another building to use to meet needs.