Freeport Area looks to make up to $600,000 in upgrades before end of school year

The Freeport Area School District has a nearly $600,000 “honey-do” list it wants to get done before the end of the school year.

The school board plans to move the money from the general fund to the capital fund and consider projects on a line-item basis. Some of the projects have been planned but put off for some time.

Among the items to be voted on are:

• $111,000 to refurbish the senior high gym and install more efficient lighting and ceiling tiles. The school district might also look at removing the aging tiles and going with just the bare duct work on the ceiling.
• $95,000 to install new bleachers at the senior high gym. School Director Mike Huth said that has been considered for almost 20 years.
• $85,000 for a one-ton pickup truck to replace a 2009 Ford F-350. A blade to plow snow and a salt spreader will be utilized when necessary, besides the every day tasks for the vehicle.
• $25,000 for a replacement lawn mower for the senior high and middle school. With the middle school, the district has considerably more grass to cut.
• $18,000 for an air and dirt separator on the boiler system.

“All of these need to be done at some point in time,” said Business Manager Ryan Manzer.

For now, the electronic message board near the school entrance on Route 356 has been shut off because it is malfunctioning. The school board has to decide whether to move the sign because of impending work on Route 356, or simply replace the message area.

George Guido is a freelance writer.