Progress made on several projects

NEW BREMEN - In addition to the James F. Dicke Auditorium undergoing substantial upgrades, including new and additional seating, estimated at more than $250,000, school board members heard about several other potential building updates.

Superintendent Jason Schrader briefed school board members on Wednesday evening on possible updates the district is looking into.

Of the potential upgrades, a track resurfacing project would entail milling down the existing asphalt, pouring new asphalt, a new track and upgrading the exterior fence, Schrader had said.

Schrader also discussed possibly replacing the grass inside the track with turf, saying the turf would help with sports practices, including football, band, track, baseball and softball. He also had said gym classes could utilize the turf, whereas they currently cannot if the grass is too wet.

Schrader said the district still has to bid the project out, but he is anticipating it to be about $125,000.

Other upgrades include building sand volleyball courts and upgrading the water heater and replacing the dishwasher in the wash area. He didn't have a cost estimate on either because the process is in the early stages.

To give the high school theatre a facelift, board members in July awarded a $166,700 contract to Farnham Equipment for Hussey Seating Company to replace the seating in the auditorium located in the high school.

Plans for the total project, estimated at $258,000, call for removing the old seats, resurfacing the concrete floor, installing new and additional seats, replacing the carpet and restoring the acoustical panels on the outside of the auditorium, according to Schrader.

The auditorium was constructed in 1999 and currently seats 474. Once the project is finished, it will boast seating for 500.

Board members also accepted $108,000 in donations from Crown Equipment and the James and Eileen Dicke Foundation for the auditorium project. The remaining $150,000 will be covered with funds remaining from the K-6 building project.

In 2019, school board members set the guaranteed maximum price for the building project at $17.489 million. The late Dianne Komminsk also contributed a $1 million donation.

Schrader had said he felt comfortable using the leftover funds for the project because Komminsk advocated for the arts.

In recent years, the auditorium has undergone several repairs.

In Sept. 2023, board members passed an emergency resolution to award a $76,000 contract to Tiffin Scenic Studios to repair and replace stage equipment in the auditorium.

The metal fabricating company repaired and replaced the mechanical workings for the auditorium's curtains, drapes and lighting, Schrader had said. The $76,436 contract included reengineering the existing equipment to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

In other business, board members heard the 2023-2024 transportation costs were down from 2022. In 2023-2024, the district used nine buses to transport 335 students. The buses drove 219 miles daily and 55,924 miles annually, a total cost of $245,788. In 2022-2023. the district used nine buses to transport 340 students. The buses drove 224 miles daily and 56,973 miles annually, a total cost of $254,479. focus in which it will prioritize the staff working with law enforcement agencies to practice and revise safety protocols.

Board members also,

• accepted bus driver Greg Maurer's resignation. Mauer has been a driver since 1985.

• approved supplemental contracts and hourly rates.

• approved fall sports volunteers.

The board meets next at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at the Dianne Komminsk Center for Innovative Thinking.