Replacement of windows, playground equipment anticipated

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

TOMAHAWK – The School District of Tomahawk Board of Education this week voted to approve a list of capital projects for the 2023-2024 school year, as well as an updated ten-year project plan.

During the board’s two-plus hour meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Arland Wingate briefly discussed the array of projects.

Among the top priorities is replacing eight rubber roofs. Although the school complex is one building, the structure has 37 different roofs. While a number of roofs have seen work in recent years, others haven’t been replaced since the mid-1980s, according to a summary of the district’s roofing systems provided during the meeting.

The estimated cost for the roof work is $380,000.00.

Other projects include replacing elementary school playground equipment, replacing windows in the middle and high schools, brickwork improvements on the elementary school and repairing sidewalks and curbs around the school complex. These projects carry a combined estimated price tag of $477,400.00.

The total cost for the upcoming work is projected to be $857,400.00, which is within the maintenance budget.

Wingate noted that although these projects are slated to be completed over the summer, potential difficulties finding available contractors may force the projects to be completed later in the year.

The board also took a brief look at an updated ten-year projection for capital projects, organized by priority.

Additional roof work tops the list of repairs and preventative maintenance. Also included are the replacements of a school van, snow sweeper/mower tractor, heating system pumps and motors, lawnmower deck, maintenance truck and air handling units throughout the school complex.

The list also made note of several recently-completed projects. The sanding and relining of the floors in the fieldhouse and high school gym, as well as the replacements of a boiler and the ceiling tiles in all classrooms, were checked off the list.

Among the safety projects on the ten-year list are replacing playground equipment with poured base, replacing and upgrading security cameras and systems and laying out traffic patterns, crosswalks and drop-off areas throughout the school complex.

Completed safety projects removed from the list include the recently-replaced bleachers in the high school gym and security upgrades made to interior and exterior doors.