Summer projects

under way at

District 88

facilities

Summer is

busier than usual

By KREMENA TODOROVA

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Several maintenance and reconstruction projects are accounting for a busier-than-usual summer at District 88, according to Facilities Director Scott Hogen.

In one category of projects, the district is continuing the mold clean-up and reconstruction that resulted from the discovery a couple of years ago of mold growth throughout facilities.

About $300,000 worth of mold removal work is taking place this summer, said Hogen.

It includes clean-up, reinsulation and rebuilding of the crawl space under Jefferson Elementary School, the tunnel between the High School and the boiler plant and the High School office area.

With most of the mold work finished last summer and some projects spaced throughout the year, mold removal is actually winding down, says Hogen. This summer's projects are "almost the last" that remain to be done. Only one other project, involving pipe insulation repairs, is still to be completed, and it is "not of the same extent."

Another major spending item this summer is the replacement of three boilers, worth $300,000. The boilers are being placed in the main boiler plant serving Jefferson and the High School.

Yet another item is the installation of security cameras at the Middle School and High School, a $65,000 investment.

The cameras will monitor activities both inside and outside the buildings. Eventually, they will be linked to an computerized police department system that will remain online during nights and weekends, as well as days.

This project is funded with a one-time allocation under a federal program that helps buy security items for schools, said Hogen.

The more minor maintenance work this summer includes sidewalk replacement at the Middle school, a cost of about $3,000.

All work needs to be completed by August 15, before school resumes, and Hogen said it is progressing according to schedule.