BY APRIL TOLER

april.toler@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A preliminary list of summer maintenance projects for District 80 schools was presented to the school board Wednesday.

Superintendent Kevin Settle said there are four major projects that need to be addressed immediately — a new roof at J.L. Buford Intermediate Center, replacement of the gymnasium floor at Casey Middle School, remodeling of the school district’s Central Office and asbestos removal at Benjamin Franklin Early Education Center.

A new roof at Buford is expected to cost about $200,000, with the money to come out of the district’s life/safety fund. Work is expected to begin this summer on the project.

Other projects at Buford include asphalting the new parking lot; installing new ceiling tile; adding pea gravel to the playground; repairing the south drive; and inspecting and repairing bleachers.

As for Casey, the board has received a bid of $35,000 to replace the gym floor; money for that project would come out of the school district’s operation and maintenance fund.

Other projects at Casey include pouring sidewalk from the west side of building to the front; replacing exit doors in the gym and orchestra room; and installing new carpet in the science wing.

Another project on which Settle urged the board to get started is the remodeling of the Central Office. That project includes removing a wall, replacing carpet, installing blinds and ceiling fans, and painting.

Money for this project would also come out of the operation and maintenance fund. Current estimates for the project are approximately $14,700, not including the costs for painting. This project is expected to begin during spring break and resume during summer vacation.

Finally, asbestos removal at Franklin is expected to cost approximately $100,000; that money would also come out of the district’s operation and maintenance fund.

Settle said there is a steam leak in the tunnels beneath the school, causing them to be sealed off because they contain asbestos.

He said the situation is not a threat to Franklin’s pupils or staff but it does need to be addressed.

Other summer projects at Franklin include asphalting the parking lot behind the gym and striping a parking lot.

After last week’s three-year budget projections — discussed by Carl Holman from the Illinois State Board of Education, Settle and the board’s finance committee — Settle said the district should be able to complete these projects with the current operation and maintenance funds in the budget.

A number of the projects listed can be completed by the district’s maintenance staff.

Settle said he will meet with the building committee to further discuss these projects and to give the board more accurate cost projections.

In March, Settle will bring an updated list of projects and a request to establish bid specifications for those projects exceeding $20,000, he said.

In other business Wednesday, the board:

n authorized the district to move forward with the submission of applications for various grants, including the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant, the National Science Foundation Grant and the Physical Education for Progress Grant;

n heard an analysis of the district’s commercial insurance plan coverage from Travis Bushue of Bushue Human Resources;

n approved an administrator’s request to nominate classroom teacher Rolland Mays, school administrator Cleo Holt, the first-grade team of Barb Poe, Evelyn Lash and Donna Clutts, student support employee Brenda Culver and community volunteer Heather King for Those Who Excel In Education awards;

n approved an eighth-grade field trip to Chicago for talented and gifted students, as long as they raise the funds to cover the trip;

n approved Jefferson County Sports Authority’s use of Strothmann Park for a youth football camp during the week of March 13.