Throughout the summer months, the Island Trees School District has been keeping busy. In addition to numerous successful Summer YES Programs which took place throughout the district last month, the summer sports camps, other programs and district-wide renovations have been taking place as well.

All of the recent renovations taking place are included in the district's $3.5 million bond referendum which residents passed in December and include the renovation and refurbishing of several areas throughout the district's schools. Included is the renovation of the high school track, tennis courts and auditorium, the replacement of hallways ceiling tile and lighting at both elementary schools and the replacement of the roof at Karopczyc Elementary School, which houses the Island Trees Public Library.

Throughout May and June of this past school year, teachers and staff members at Sparke Elementary School were emptying shelves, closets and desks and were packing all of the contents of their classrooms into boxes. It appeared as though the school was being closed and its entire contents were being moved to another building. Residents have no need to worry, as the packing up was to facilitate the district's renovation projects: the removal of asbestos floor tile from every classroom inside the elementary school.

Instead of moving all of the classroom contents to another building, the majority of the Island Trees District custodial staff started removing the contents of each classroom and bringing the items either to the gym or the cafeteria. Within three days, all of the boxes, desks, chairs, computers and window blinds were removed from every classroom in the building and were contained in either the cafeteria or the gym. Following the emptying of all the classrooms, outside workers labored for a week to remove asbestos floor tile that had been installed in the classrooms back when the school was built in 1956.

Since Sparke is used for the Summer YES program, some classes were moved to the district's other elementary school and others to the middle school. Next year, when Stokes will be renovated and have all of its asbestos floor tile removed, grades 1, 2 and 3 in the summer program will return to Sparke and grades 4, 5 and 6 will remain at the middle school.

The old floor tile was removed throughout the entire building and painters are seizing the opportunity to paint classrooms that have not been this empty and available for 46 years. Following right behind the painters are the floor tile installers laying down new non-asbestos floor tile and new baseboard molding.

After several days of allowing the floor tile to set, the custodial staff waxed every classroom floor. Finally, the inevitable task of moving the contents from the gym and cafeteria back into the classrooms will once again be the responsibility of Plant and Facilities Director Steve Faltermeyer and his district custodial staff. The district plans to have the classrooms in Sparke back in order in about two weeks, as teachers are anticipating coming in to set up their rooms in time for the Sept. 4 opening. This year, teachers at Sparke will have a special treat as their rooms will have been retiled and repainted. Stokes teachers have that to look forward to next year.

According to Island Trees School District Superintendent Richard N. Segerdahl, all projects taking place throughout the district are on schedule and are proceeding without hesitation. He noted that the roof at Karopczyc is nearing completion and that the track renovation should be completed in time for homecoming. (Please see this week's sports page for more information on the renovation of the high school.) In addition, Segerdahl noted that the district is planning to go out to bid in November to find out who will perform the renovation of the high school auditorium and the other elementary school. Segerdahl explained that he anticipates that competitive bids will come in for the projects.

The superintendent added that all of the projects included in the bond referendum are on schedule and will certainly be completed within a two year period.

The district was also recently proud to receive a high "Moody's Rating," after completing a detailed report outlining Island Trees' financial position. This information was submitted to Moody's Investment Service to receive a rating. A high rating could then be presented to interested lending institutions to receive the best possible rates when going out to borrow the entire $3.5 million and paying back the debt over a 20 year period.

After a careful review of all of the information presented the district received a Moody's Rating of A2. The opinion from Moody's stated "This rating reflects the district's satisfactory financial operations, manageable debt and stable tax base. Moody's believes the district's debt position will remain very manageable given the modest direct debt. Direct debt is only 0.8 percent of full valuation and becomes further moderated at 0.3 percent after state school building aid."

The A2 Moody's Rating was a strong factor in helping the district receive a low bid of 4.436 percent for the sale of the Bond Bid of $3.5 million for 20 years from Roosevelt and Cross. Upon receipt, the $3.5 million will be invested in a money market or in short term notes ranging from 60 days to one year in duration. As a project is completed, the necessary money will be withdrawn from the interest bearing investment to pay the contractor.