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| The exit of a new bus loop at Aiken Elementary School in Ontario was completed shortly before the school year began, as part of the improvements made by the Ontario School District. Other improvements include a bus loop at May Roberts Elementary School, along with construction projects at the Ontario High School and Ontario Middle School. |
At the Nov. 17 School Board meeting, Anna Ellis, CM Company representative, said the plan specifications are being completed for projects at four of the elementary schools, and those projects will go out to bid near the first of the year.
At Alameda Elementary School, electrical outlet upgrades will be completed, as well as installation new data raceways, a server room cooling upgrade and door hardware. At Cairo, the north-side windows will be replaced, and electrical and data upgrades will be made. Fire alarm and door hardware will also be installed that allows the school to be secured by pushing a button and door hardware added as well. At Pioneer, improvements include data and electrical upgrades, door hardware will be replaced and an American Disabilities Act-compliant improvements to one of the restrooms. At May Roberts, improvements include new mechanical units for the heating and cooling system.
Alameda and Cairo elementaries have also had other improvements made, and the Aiken and May Roberts bus loops have been completed. The Ontario Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade and administration building is currently under way, as is the science wing addition at Ontario High School.
The recent decision by the Ontario School Board to reconfigure the sixth grade so sixth-graders are split into two elementary schools, thus removing them from the middle school, eliminates the need to spend a little more than $1 million in non-aesthetic improvements — for electrical, lighting and door upgrades — to the OMS Enterprise Building. Instead, along with the Challenger Building at the middle school campus, the Enterprise will also be demolished in the future.
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Ontario School District Superintendent Linda Florence said, in the bidding projects, the middle school new building construction cost ate into the $1 million originally dedicated to the improvements of the Enterprise building. Before the School Board’s reconfiguration decision, the money to make those upgrades to the Enterprise Building would have come at the expense of making the additional upgrades at the elementary schools. Those projects were added back into the construction plans following that decision.
“I think it’s a much better use of the funds,” Florence said.
Although some people have questioned whether the school district was spending money on projects not originally approved by the bond with the elimination of the Enterprise upgrades, Florence said that is not the case.
According to the construction summary included in the bond measure Ontario School District voters approved in November of 2008, the bond funds would be used “to update existing school systems and facilities, replacing broken or obsolete components including safety, heading and ventilation improvements.”
“I think it’s a much better use of the funds,” Florence said.
Although some people have questioned whether the school district was spending money on projects not originally approved by the bond with the elimination of the Enterprise upgrades, Florence said that is not the case.
According to the construction summary included in the bond measure Ontario School District voters approved in November of 2008, the bond funds would be used “to update existing school systems and facilities, replacing broken or obsolete components including safety, heading and ventilation improvements.”
The Citizens Oversight Committee was formed to ensure the bond funds are being spent appropriately and in accordance to the original intentions, and Citizens Oversight Committee Chairperson Adele Schaffeld-Griffin has also indicated the committee’s approval of how the bond funds are being spent.
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