Capital plan projects schools’ five-year needs
BY GREGG L. PARKER / SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
A peek forward to 2016 for Madison City Schools was revealed with the five-year capital plan, approved by the Madison Board of Education last week.
The capital plan documents the district’s needs for long-term expenditures exceeding $50,000 for new facilities and equipment, along with costs to repair existing assets, like a roof or plumbing.
“We need a heads-up for expenditures on repairs,” Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler said. “It wouldn’t be prudent, for example, for a chiller at Liberty to go out on a certain day (without warning). A roof may have a 20-year warranty, but we need to watch for repairs.”
The capital plan considers historical (or past) school populations and projected enrollments. For example, the report can alert Fowler and staff to a school with a projected population exceeding 100 percent.
“One point we may need to consider is purchasing more land in Limestone County for an elementary school,” Fowler said about the city’s western growth.
David Smith with DS Consulting supervised the plan’s production.
“This work was done by committee,” he said. Smith retired as chief financial officer for Madison County Schools.
Smith collaborated with school administrators, teachers and parents to develop the capital plan. The plan applies population figures from school demographer Dr. Steve Salmon of Atlanta and input from the City of Madison Planning Department.
The plan must identify all needs, regardless of available funding for those improvements or construction. Fowler said three points drive capital planning for Madison:
* Educational programs — Will a school need facilities for an engineering academy or culinary center, for example?
* Facility assessment – The district identifies needs annually. Safety concerns warrant immediate attention, while some repair needs can involve subsidiary impact, like a leaking roof that causes floor problems.
* Student population — The superintendent and board must determine to commission or de-commission a school, Fowler said.
For 2012, top priorities are upgrading the backup chiller at Madison Elementary School and rooftop HVAC units at Discovery Middle School. Roofing for the dining area at Liberty Middle School is also at the top of the list.
Other needs in 2012 include repaving of drives and parking lots and curb installation at Liberty, repaving at Madison elementary, security entrances and technology upgrades at the Central Office, softball and baseball fields at Heritage Elementary School and portable bleaches for track meets at Bob Jones High School.
With completion of James Clemens High School, capacity for high school students will be under control, Smith said. James Clemens and Bob Jones can accommodate 4,000 students. Currently, 3,094 students are in grades 9-12, allowing for growth capacity of 30 percent.
In addition, Madison prepares a maintenance plan for items that are less expensive, like painting, Smith said. Kevin Guest, the system’s manager of operations, completes a facility assessment annually to identify building needs, like security cameras and electrical upgrades.
“Assessment of facilities is important,” Smith said. “When will you have to replace a roof? A chiller? A boiler?”
The State Department of Education requires all Alabama school systems to submit a five-year capital plan. For more information, visit alsde.edu.
