Vernon school board begins long-range facilities plan

VERNON TOWNSHIP-The Vernon Township School District is joining other districts around the state in preparing a "2005 Long Range Facilities Management Plan," which is required of each district by the state to identify facilities needs and plan projects based on educational goals. The LRFP reporting requirements include updating the existing inventory, entering conclusions concerning enrollment, the disposition and development of sites, buildings, program spaces, building and program upgrades, and estimating project costs. The Vernon Board of Education is interviewing architects to secure assistance in identifying project needs and estimating costs. Assessing facilities needs is an ongoing process. The board is committed to providing students, faculty and the community with safe, effective and efficient school facilities linked to the educational needs of students. Several facilities projects were completed this budget year including new furnaces at Lounsberry Hollow and Walnut Ridge schools, new windows for classrooms at the rear of Walnut Ridge, playground paving at Rolling Hills, and tiling at K-8 schools. In the spring, three sections of Glen Meadow's roof will be replaced. The Board of Education finance committee meets monthly. The committee assists the board secretary in finding ways to manage school funds in an efficient manner while being fiscally prudent. The board has determined that it would be financially advantageous to refinance the district's 1999 debt. At the Feb. 17, 2005 meeting, board members voted unanimously to make application to the State Local Finance Board for its review and/or approval of a proposed refunding bond ordinance. Board members also voted unanimously to approve the first reading of a refunding bond ordinance, which authorizes the issuance of refunding bonds to refinance outstanding callable 1999 bonds and realize debt service savings. The public hearing and second reading of the ordinance is scheduled 7:30 p.m., March 10, at a public work session at Lounsberry Hollow Middle School. The Board of Education believes it is in the public interest to take this action. The costs of the refinancing are reasonable and will save taxpayers a considerable amount of money over the life of the debt.