Atlantic School District Superintendent Steve Barber, Wednesday, provided the School Board with an update on capital projects and district needs for the future. Barber said the “catwalk” between the Middle School and Washington Elementary is finally finished after being closed due to an accident earlier this year, involving a truck. With regard to capitol projects, the first priority is to continue with the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) replacement cycle. The tentative plan calls for replacing two, large units above the high school gym and a medium-size unit for the office. The price would fall between $55-thousand and $130-thousand dollars, so cost estimates, according to Barber, would be a requirement.

He said also, Transportation Director Dave Eckles has applied for a diesel replacement grant for one of the District’s buses. The bus fleet, he says, is in good shape right now, so they can wait another year or so for their next purchase. Additional grant dollars may be available through Volkswagen in the future to purchase a bus. An audit by a roofing company and the district’s insurance company, Barber says, and an analysis of the district’s roofs show they are in good condition, but administrators feel that it will be important to begin a cycle of having a roof project each year. That he said, can wait for another year. Barber said also, the high school track needs to be repaired.

In future meetings, District Technology Director Roger Warne will be presenting to the Board his thoughts on a technology plan that includes achieving goals for implementation and costs associated with, a three-year cycle. Barber said also, they are looking at options to continue the transition to LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting on a continuous cycle until all the lights are converted to the energy and cost-saving lights.

And finally, Superintendent Barber said he has inquired about the cost of replacing the parking lots, with the high school parking lot a priority, since it continues to deteriorate. He says the best approach appears to be to remove and replace the surface, to the base can be improved that would ensure a long-lasting, concrete parking lot. Discussion about those projects are expected to begin in December. Those talks would include the current budget for PPEL (The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy), and SAVE (Secure an Advanced Vision for Education, and the projected costs to each of the Capitol Projects.