District considers capital projects for summer completion

The Kimball High School will soon receive a facelift, in the form of new windows that will be installed in eight east and west classrooms this summer.

Superintendent of Kimball Schools, Marshall Lewis, discussed the capital improvement project with the Kimball Board of Education at their regular meeting on Thursday, May 11.

Two companies were considered for the project, Simonton Windows and Pella. Simonton was chosen as the more cost effective solution.

The Kimball High School Ag shop also has Simonton Windows that were installed a few years ago.

“We were really happy when they went in,” Lewis said.

Funding for the windows, a total of $43,000, will be taken from the “windows, carpet and lights” budget which has a total allowance of $60,000.

Additionally, a small carpet project at Mary Lynch Elementary will be completed after school is dismissed for summer.

According to Lewis, this project should take only a day or two to complete and has been done in three different places because it was so well liked.

“We’ve had no kids fall down coming in after a snowy day,” said Mary Lynch Principal Mike Mitchell. Mitchell added that the carpet is much easier to clean.

The board took from the table the outdoor concession stand renovation project.

Lewis received a price range from a local contractor to build a better concession stand outside the stadium, a project that ranged between $70,000 and $140,000 depending on materials and the building.

Lewis concluded that the project was cost prohibitive and recommended the board reconsider renovating the current facility.

The project would include removing the current concession stand “lid” and discarding the soft materials. Lewis recommended leaving the cinderblock, adding a pitched roof on the concession stand then finish from the inside.

“The way it sits right now I will not allow us to be under (the stadium) selling concessions come football time,” he said.

Using the school for restrooms and concessions was also discussed, however Lewis does not feel that would be the best idea. Doing so would mean more supervision inside the school as well as more clean-up for the janitorial staff after hours.

By far the largest capital improvement considered, renovating the outdoor concession stand was passed on to the Building and Grounds Committee for future recommendation.