The Chanute USD 413 Board of Education received updates on construction projects, asbestos abatement and major facility concerns during its regular meeting Wednesday.
Superintendent Matt Koester reported that final adjustments are being made to ongoing construction projects, with bid documents scheduled to be released for upcoming work to convert the Early Learning Center into a daycare facility.
The district is also moving forward with a phased asbestos abatement project, which will be completed in three phases. Koester said the project is progressing well and allowing the district additional time to address the work properly.
However, Koester also shared new concerns regarding district facilities, specifically at Chanute High School. The bi annual roof inspection found that nine sections of the flat roof, which are original to the building, have deteriorated to the point that repairs are no longer effective.
Replacement of the affected roof sections is estimated to cost approximately $430,000. Koester said patching the roof is no longer a viable option, as the materials have become brittle and continue to fail.
Koester noted that replacing the roof on CHS would mean that all of the roofs on the schools would be under a decade old.
While the project is costly, he said the district can afford the replacement using capital outlay funds.
The project will require architectural services and cannot be completed through a standard request for proposals process. Koester said delaying replacement could lead to additional damage and higher long-term costs, though the exact financial impact of waiting is unknown.
No action was taken following the facilities update.
