Hitchcock County voters to decide school bond issue

CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- During a special board meeting in late August, the Hitchcock County Board of Educated voted unanimously to call a special bond election in November 2010. If passed the bond amount of $9.8 million would be used to update the current facilities being used by the Hitchcock County School District.

The plans, created by CG Architects of North Platte, show updated buildings in both communities. The high school would continue to be located in Trenton and the Elementary would remain in Culbertson.

At the Trenton site, the existing 1920s building would be demolished and replaced with a 19,800 square foot addition. This addition would provide several new classrooms and administration offices.

Currently, the campus at Trenton is made up of two separate buildings. The building on the north side of campus is made up of administration, band/music, gymnasium and a half dozen classrooms. The south building holds the lunch room and several more classrooms.

In the days before consolidation, the north building was used by the high school and junior high students, while the south building was home to the elementary students. Now students walk to and from the buildings throughout the day. This has been seen as a safety concern by the administration since all doors in-between are left unlocked throughout the day.

If the proposed changes are made, the space between the two buildings would be connected and where there was once cement and grass, new energy efficient classrooms will be found. Creating one, connected building will increase the security and safety of not only the students of Hitchcock County High School but the staff and faculty as well.

The administrative offices will be moved to the west side of the school, where a bus lane and off-street parking will be created. Placing these offices at the entrance to the building will increase student safety and supervision.

A new wood and metal Industrial Arts area would be located north of the administration offices.

Down the hall, a Commons Area would be created along with ADA assessable bathrooms, as well as six new classrooms at the east end of the building. This new addition would be a single level structure and administration or staff will easily be able to see from one end of the building to another. This is another increased safety and security feature of the new addition. The added classrooms will be large enough to allow growth with each grade.

Finally, the mechanical, HVAC and electrical systems would be updated. The electrical system currently being used in the building on the north side of campus is original to the building. It has not been updated since 1927 when it was installed. In 1927, far less electricity was used compared to today. The system is not equipped to handle the many computers, projectors, televisions and various other electrical equipment used at the high school today. Simply updating this system would be a very expensive undertaking and staff would still be forced to deal with an inadequate amount of outlets in their classrooms. In fact, the system would not be able to support window air conditioners if they were installed in the 1920's building.

The two buildings that will not be changed during the renovations would be the current gymnasium and the building on the south side of campus, known as the Junior High building. Upgraded electrical and a fire sprinkler system would be the only changes effecting the gym.

The Junior High building would have new windows installed to provide better energy efficiency.

The upgraded HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system, along with the energy efficient windows, would save the District $36,000 annually in utility costs. That is approximately the cost of a new teacher, which include their benefits package.

Similar work would be done in Culbertson as well. In place of the 1920's building, a 22,500 square foot elementary would be built. The electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems would be replaced in this building and a Fire Sprinkler System would also be installed.

The proposed addition would be added on the east side of the current gymnasium. It would contain classrooms for pre-school through sixth grade, along with several extra classrooms to accommodate for large classes.

Currently there are 175 students attending Hitchcock County Elementary. That breaks down to: twenty-four Kindergarten students, twenty-four First Graders, twenty-six students in Second Grade, twenty-three students in Third Grade, twenty-three Forth Grade students, seventeen Fifth Grade students and eighteen students in Sixth Grade. The pre-school has twenty enrolled students which is the maximum amount allowed in the program.

This addition would also be a single story structure allowing for better visual contact in the hallway. The administration would be moved to the entrance of the building. At the current elementary, visitors must pass by three classrooms before reaching the office. Making the office the first room visitors come in contact with will improve the safety of everyone in the building.

The front of the building will also feature off street parking as well as a bus lane for easier drop-off and pick-up of students.

The current location of the pre-school will be converted into a cafeteria and kitchen area. The rest of the gymnasium, building in 1967, will remain the same, aside from updating the mechanical and electrical and adding a Fire Sprinkler System.

If you wish to tour the current facilities or have questions for the Administration or architects, two open house events are planned in the month of October.

October 20, 2010, a tour will be given in Trenton from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And again in Culbertson at 8:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Also on October 31, 2010 a barbeque is planned in Trenton at 12:00 p.m. Patrons will be given a chance to tour the buildings along with receiving lunch. A tour of the Culbertson facility will be held at 2:00 p.m. that afternoon.

During these events, representatives from CG Architects, Ameritas (the company that will issue the bonds if passed) and Hitchcock County Administration will be available to answers any question members of the public might have. The events are open to everyone and all residents of the Hitchcock County School District are encouraged to attend.

For more information or to view the blueprints of the two buildings visit www.falconfuture.com.