Schools weigh in on spending of unused bond money

LAPEER — Lapeer Community Schools board members are looking at spending priorities for about $6 million in contingency money that remains from the 2007 capital improvement bond issue.

Working with school principals and building managers, the district has come up with a list of projects to be addressed with the remaining money. The school board is expected to firm up its intentions when it meets in a workshop session on Jan. 21.

Included in the list are electrical infrastructure upgrades to accommodate new computers and communication systems at the elementary school buildings for $1.1 million. Another $1 million is estimated for technology infrastructure in elementary and high schools, and $300,000 is tentatively earmarked for district-wide technology improvements.

School officials also would like to see the parking lot at Seaton Elementary rebuilt at a cost of $250,000 and relocate school offices at Lynch, Turrill and Maple Grove elementary schools at a cost of $532,000. Other items include replacement of student furniture ($400,000), 40 new exterior doors ($200,000), public address systems at Lapeer East, Schickler, Murphy and Lynch ($140,000), 800 new lockers in elementary schools ($64,000), 60 bathroom partitions ($80,000), and new portable staging/ new choir risers ($30,000).

A total of $341,000 would be needed to create five new classrooms at Seaton Elementary, $55,000 could be spent on library automation and another $50,000 could be used for new books in middle school media centers. New roof and air handling units at Lynch Elementary ($300,000) and electrical upgrades at the high schools ($200,000) are also on the tentative list. — J.H.