At the June 25 Island Trees Board of Education meeting, Island Trees Superintendent Richard N. Segerdahl made a presentation outlining major capital projects that must be addressed by the board of education and the Island Trees residents. Segerdahl explained that the six school buildings, in the Island Trees School District, are in excellent shape due to the continual maintenance and attention to detail that has taken place over the years. The superintendent stated that the capital needs for the school district are roof replacement and boiler and burner replacement. The roofs that need total replacement are the Geneva N. Gallow School, the middle school, the high school and partial roof replacement at the Michael F. Stokes School. The burners and boilers throughout the district need replacement as they range in age from 45 years to 50+ years. Segerdahl stated, "Fortunately our residents have supported the concept of ongoing maintenance and the amount of bonded debt for our school district is relatively low if one were to compare Island Trees to surrounding districts." Using overheads the superintendent went into detail about the projected cost of each of the projects. The total cost for the replacement of the roofs on the four schools was estimated to be $2,746,884. The cost for the replacement of the boilers and burners in all six schools would be $2,900,000. When combining those two totals with the estimated cost for the architect and contingency fees the total estimated cost for all of the projects would be $6.1 million. The superintendent explained that in July 2005 the last payment of approximately $450,000 is due on the 15-year bond that was initiated in May 1990. He stated, "If we continue that budget line of $450,000 bond payment in the 2005 school budget, our bond council estimated that we could borrow $6.1 million over 20 years at 4 percent. We estimate that the $6.1 million would allow us to complete all of the necessary roof, boiler and burner upgrades throughout the district. The concept is similar to leasing a car. When the last payment is due on your three-year lease you turn the car in and lease another car for the same dollar amount payment you had been paying over the last three years. If we did not plan for the roof replacement and in 2006 we had to replace the middle school roof, we would have to increase our school budget in 2006 by at least $1.3 million. We still would have to address the roof leaks at the high school (estimated cost $1.1 million) and the Stokes School (estimated cost $74,000) and the eventual boiler and burner replacements." The superintendent explained that there is no question that the replacement of the roofs and the replacement of the boilers and burners are necessary. By planning for these projects and not ignoring them until emergency replacement is necessary saves money and avoids additional problems and expenses. He went on to explain that it is also very prudent to take advantage of the extremely low borrowing rates to address these necessary capital projects that will benefit Island Trees students, staff and residents for many years to come.

At the July 7 district reorganization meeting the members of the board of education passed a resolution calling for a special district meeting of the residents of the Island Trees School District to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 23, between the hours of noon to 9 p.m. at the Michael F. Stokes School for the purpose of voting on the proposed $6.1 million bond referendum.

The board of education also authorized Superintendent Segerdahl to put together a brochure to be mailed to all Island Trees residents advertising the bond referendum vote and to hold a "Bond Referendum Hearing" on Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. in the Gallow Elementary School. Residents are invited to the bond referendum hearing to ask questions and better understand the need for the bond to address the capital projects.