By Adam Knoll
Correspondent
The Raymond School Board convened a public workshop with 45 residents in attendance May 15 to discuss potential upgrades being made to Raymond School.
What has been approved so far is borrowed funding for a $1.9 million project (with no tax impact) to update and renovate the school – energy-efficient projects school officials explain are far overdue and have been plaguing the building for years.
Such projects include a complete replacement of the school’s roof, which is riddled with leaks, and a new plumbing system throughout the entire school.
Other upcoming improvements this summer include all new windows for the school, new updated lighting throughout the structure and air conditioners for the gym and cafeteria.
When asked if Raymond School could be categorized as being in poor condition, Raymond administrator Joe Dawidziak said he believes that “depends on what part of the building we are talking about, and who you are speaking to.”
The school’s roof and the plumbing are in bad shape, he said. Its windows are not efficient and lighting is not up to today’s standards, he explained.
These problems have been in place for a while, and various consultants have come in to help district officials come up with a plan, Dawidziak explained.
In March 2013, for example, a plumbing company ran a camera everywhere underground to identify problems at Raymond School
Also, several vendors have analyzed the structure of the roof due to constant leaking issues, Dawidziak said.
Now that funding and plans have been adopted and secured, work on the primary school projects has been slated to begin the day after Raymond closes for summer.
The projects are expected to be finished before class resumes in the fall, he said.
Second project for the entryway
A second project would provide a new secure main entrance to replace the school’s problems with admitting visitors into the building.
The Raymond School Foundation (RSF) is looking to raise funds so the entryway project will be paid for by the RSF and only supplemented by the district, if need be.
Cost for a new entryway will not raise taxes to residents and the project would be completed by the start of the school year, Dawidziak said.
He explained why things need to change.
“Once you get buzzed into the building, you pretty much have free range of the entire complex. We want visitors to go to the office before being allowed into the rest of the building,” Dawidziak said.
The project does not include metal detectors or any other superfluous ideas, he added, but rather will provide a more direct way to keep visitation better structured.
Third (and referendum) project ideas
The third and final approach to improving Raymond School has been tabled until November, and that revolves around fixing other areas of the school that are not quite in as dire condition as the projects being finished this summer.
District officials hope to be able to replace portable trailers installed in 2003 as a space solution for more classrooms.
Along with this, the district would like to add permanent spaces for the library and band rooms, along with an addition of a new two-station gym.
The district is also seeking consideration for a stage addition and extended parking with an access road to 5-mile Road.
Finally, the school would benefit from adding air conditioning to existing learning spaces.
All of these considerations will not be looked at until a November 2014 Facility Referendum.
Making choices
Dawidziak went on to explain how officials will know which upcoming projects to tackle vs. others the community might not want.
A survey went out to the entire Raymond community that offered options, Dawidziak explained. As an example, one had to do with achieving a secure entry. “We recognized that security when entering the building was still a bit of an issue,” he said.
District officials are focused on trying to do what they understand “the majority of the community is telling us they want us to do,” he added.
When asked about the impact on taxes, Dawidziak explained that right now there is no clear answer, “because we are trying to determine the scope.
“Obviously the larger the referendum, the more taxes go up. We are trying to keep that to a minimum.”
When asked if he felt that the community will support efforts to renovate the school, Dawidziak did not hesitate.
The Raymond community has been very supportive of the school throughout the years, Dawidziak said. The idea of having to raise taxes for referendum projects is concerning to taxpayers, he added.
“It’s concerning, and it should be,” Dawidziak said.
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