Superintendent Presents Latest Capital Improvement Plans

Superintendent William Guzman presented the latest capital improvement plan for the school district at Wednesday's school board meeting, which included a project to repave the lower portion of the Tolland Intermediate School paving lot, as well as repair sidewalks at the school.

The capital improvement plan, extended to 2018, listed a number of projects. In 2013-2014, the school district will:

• Install generators at TIS And TMS to power Internet servers at both buildings that are essential to preserving Internet function with town hall. Cost: $11,520 per generator
• Repave the lower loading/parking area at TIS and repair sidewalks. Cost: $65,855
• Removal of gym door (installed 1960) at TMS. The door costs between $1,500 - $3,000 a year in maintenance due to the difficulty of finding parts. Cost: $60,000
• Installation of ice-melting equipment on THS roof. The installation will prevent jammed doors due to snow loads, as occurred during the 2010 snow storms. Cost: $25,255
•  Skylight replacement at TIS. The gym roof area skylights were installed in 1973. Cost: $18,000
• Replacement of Jeep for maintenance department. Cost: $25,500

Guzman said that several other projects, such as the removal of asbestos floor tiles at TIS and roof replacement at Parker Memorial School were pushed back to either accommodate requested improvements, such as generator installation for improved emergency preparedness, and to allow the town to investigate senior housing at Parker School, which would remove Parker items from the capital plan.

Guzman said that asbestos is not a health issue as long as it is contained and not airborne, as is the case at TIS. He said the floor tiles are also monitored.

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Guzman added that the TIS repaving was moved forward since improvements were essential at the school.

"It's something that's needed very badly at the intermediate school," he said. "It should be addressed."

Guzman also presented the district's enrollment numbers at the meeting. According to the agenda, Tolland has 2,840 students in its schools this year, a decrease of 137 students from 2,977 in 2011-2012. 

The school board meets next on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at town hall.