Brunswick Schools presents proposed capital plan from now to Fiscal Year 2033

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick Schools announced the proposed capital improvements that would occur in the district until fiscal year 2033 that would be paid for using permanent improvement funds and sales tax dollars. Director of Business Affairs Kent Morgan presented the plan during the board of education meeting Tuesday. "This is a fluid document," he said. "It is something that we will work on throughout the year, and then, of course, update and present to you, hopefully on an annual basis." The plan factors in the estimated cost for each project, Morgan said. It assumes there is $2.2 million in permanent improvement funding and $4 million in sales tax money annually to support the plan. Some projects also fall under the $102 million bond issue. "We also have some carryover funds," he said. "It's beneficial for us to keep a little bit of money back and plan for emergency situations." Multiple annual districtwide expenses are part of the proposal, Morgan said. The expenses include new textbooks, technology, flooring, school buses, paving, sealing and concrete. Treasurer Mark Pepera said the district also has Certificate of Participation debt that the schools make a payment toward each year. The debt was taken out in 2010 to build the stadium behind the high school and make districtwide improvements, which were primarily for the elementary schools. "Because of the size of that initiative and the resources available, we chose the most cost-effective option because the cost of debt back then was relatively low," he said. Fiscal year 2026 has the following proposed expenditures: Band, football and soccer field maintenance Chiller at Memorial and Huntington Fire panel at Crestview Kitchen dishwashers at Memorial Kitchen reach-in freezers and walk-in coolers at Hickory Ridge Roof recoat at the transportation building The following are proposed expenditures for fiscal year 2027: Band, football and soccer field maintenance Fire panel and kitchen dishwashers at Hickory Ridge High school gym scoreboards Kitchen reach-in freezers at Huntington Variable air volume system at Huntington and Memorial There are the following proposed expenditures for fiscal year 2028: Band, football and soccer field maintenance Fire panel and window replacement at Memorial High school band tower Kitchen dishwashers and window replacement at Huntington Kitchen reach-in freezers at Crestview In fiscal year 2029, Applewood would receive kitchen dishwashers and Huntington would get reach-in freezers as part of the proposal. The district's time clock system is proposed to be updated in fiscal year 2030. The turf at the middle school is proposed to be replaced in fiscal year 2031 while the high school turf would be replaced in fiscal year 2033. The proposal also includes a roof recoat at Memorial in fiscal year 2032. The plan is to submit the proposal for approval as part of the June board of education meeting, Morgan said. "We feel very confident that our plan is doable, and it's in a time frame that is manageable for us," he said. "For me anyway, I feel a lot better about the direction that we're going from my department to make sure everything's up and running and safe for our kids." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.