WISD plans stadium improvements
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

When the current bond-financed construction in Wharton ISD is completed, there should be funds available to pursue additional projects.

That was the assessment of Superintendent James Bartosh, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Galen Privitt and District Business Manager Randy Hill during a presentation made during Tuesday's Special Meeting of the WISD Board of Trustees.

The report came as part of a discussion on replacing bench seating at Tiger Stadium, approved by the board as they accepted a bid for $61,000 from the Texas Prison System.

The previously rejected best bid submitted by the district architect for the project, PBK, was $128,000. The money for the seating will come out of fund balance.

Bartosh reminded the board they had previously approved two other stadium improvements - replacing the wastewater system and sealing the concrete portions of the structure. He said the original bid was broken into three parts with the seating independent based on price.

He added the seating in place was the original from 1969 and has wood planking on a metal brace with a fiberglass cap.

Having the seating replaced would be the most visible way of displaying the improved stadium facility, Bartosh added.

While fund balance is being used for the stadium renovations, Hill said the district might be able to "write itself a check" out of the bond funds once the existing designated projects are completed.

The district is projecting saving $195,000 to $200,000 with the Wharton Elementary Project and another $200,000 from the Wharton Junior High Project, Privitt said. Hill added that even before being able to calculate the contingency savings, the district had $13.7 million to pay off the balance to finish already approved work. That includes add-on projects at Wharton High School and Sivells Elementary, with a capital fund account of $14.5 million, leaving the district approximately $800,000 to the plus side.

"While we painted a negative picture during our preliminary budget workshop, the WISD, whether bond or regular fund balance, is sitting pretty," Bartosh said in pushing the stadium seating. "And this is a project that improves the face of the WISD."

The board also received firmer numbers from administrators regarding the cost of converting to a lockerless school system. Privitt said existing maintenance staff could remove the lockers at the high school and that Drymalla could remove the pillars lockers are attached to in the middle of some hallways and restore the floors for $6,120. At the junior high, the recommendation is to remove the handle hardware from the existing lockers and then cover them with drywall at a general expense of $1,000 with the district again doing the maintenance.

On the additional set of classroom books that would be necessary, Director of Student Services Kay Shoppa said the cost would be about $13,390 at the junior high and $27,000 at the high school.

"Those costs along with the cost of removing the lockers comes to a 'ball park' figure of $48,000," Bartosh said.

Board member Gary Ward questioned moving forward this soon, saying the comments people have made to him is that the change is creating some "stress." Bartosh said he's not aware of any stress with district teaching staff and there would be initial stress for students and parents regardless of when the change was made. He added that he wants to move forward as soon as possible because of the positives he sees in making the change.

"We're going to get an academic push out of this," he said. "We are not going to waste any time and do this as soon as possible. I know we will be sending a great message to the community when we put school books in the home for students to use. We aren't going to be relying on 13 to 18 year olds transporting their study materials around. This will be a loud and clear message about education."

While only a discussion item at the meeting, Bartosh said it will be an action item on the agenda for the board's regular meeting Tuesday.