Stevenson High officials preparing summer construction list

Stevenson High School officials plan to spend about $6.7 million on campus improvements this summer, including roof repairs and changes to two dance studios.

Other scheduled projects include converting a vacant, district-owned house on Port Clinton Road near campus into a facility where older special-education students can learn basic life skills such as cooking and washing clothes.

The school board purchased the house last year, intending to use it for programs designed for students ages 18 to 22 who are still in school because of their special needs, spokesman Jim Conrey said.

"It will be in use starting with the 2018-19 school year," Conrey said. "We're calling it the Transition House because this is where older special-ed students in transition will have their instruction during the day."

The work at the house is expected to cost $681,200, Conrey said.

The summertime projects are independent of the ongoing construction of a $28 million addition to the East Building, which began last year and is scheduled to be completed in August 2019.

The District 125 board on Monday approved deals with 14 contractors to handle the work.

Summer traditionally is construction season at Stevenson. Last summer, the school spent about $4.7 million on 13 construction projects.

The costliest project on this year's to-do list is the roof replacement on the East Building and the adjacent aquatic center, which could cost about $3.2 million. The roofs are 22 years old and showing their age, Conrey said.

"There has been some occasional leakage into the building from the roof area near the performing arts center," he said. "Because of the work already being done on the East Building addition, it made sense to work on these roofs this summer due to proximity."

The new roofs will be equipped with solar panels to help control electricity costs, Conrey said.

Other projects on the list include:

• New turn lanes at the Port Clinton Road entrance, which could cost $916,000.

• Various mechanical and maintenance improvements that are expected to cost about $400,000.

• The remodeling of two dance studios, which should cost about $224,000.

• The remodeling of the orchestra room, a digital music lab and a percussion room, which could cost $117,000.

Funding for the projects will come from district savings.