Bath school board hopes to 'uplift' school
BY BOB RECOTTA THE LEADER

BATH - Residents of the Bath school district may have the opportunity to vote on a $12 million capital project by the end of the year.

The Bath school board held a workshop Monday, August 6, to discuss the project which would focus on the Dan Lyons Elementary School and Haverling Middle School, but could include some work at all four district schools.

"Dana Lyons and the middleschool are due for uplifting," Bath Superintendent Marion Tunney said. "The high school is brand new."

Board President William vonHagn said the board is in the process of defining the scope of the work. He said the board wants to take advantage of the $1.46 million in Excel aid the district is set to receive to get as much work done with little or no increase in taxes.

vonHagn said the district could also use some of the $500,000 it has in capital reserves to cover local costs.

Roger Parulski, the district's business administrator, said the district is eligible for 92-93 percent state aid on building projects.

"Roofs are the big thing," Tunney said. "There are plumbing issues and heating issues that need to beaddressed."

The project could also include replacing the public address system at the elementary school. Board members said a faulty public address system could become a safety issue for students.

Improving student safety is one of the uses permitted for Excel aid.

School district officials will meet with Hunt Engineering representatives on August 15. A regular school board meeting will be held later that day. Tunney said she hopes a final vote on the project can be cast in September. That would give the district enough time to hold a public hearing and allow residents to vote on the project in November.

If residents approve the project, construction could begin in summer 2009.