Local News
Kendall Breaks Ground on Capital
Improvement Project
Pictured from left: Coordinator of Student Services Nick Picardo, Board President Nadine Hanlon, Junior/Senior High School Principal Carol D’Agostino, Board Vice President Chris Gerken, Superintendent Julie Christensen, Board Trustee Chaley Swift, Elementary School Principal Sharon Smith, Board Trustee Martin Goodenbery, and Board Trustee Charles Patt.
Under a double rainbow on Wed., Oct. 15, 2014, the Kendall Board of Education broke ground on their capital improvement project. The groundbreaking took place outside the Junior/Senior High School near the soccer fields where the new cafeteria and kitchen area will be constructed. Inside the existing cafeteria were boards showing the designs from SWBR Architects, with details including carpeting samples and wall colors.
The $25 million project begins later this month, starting with the cafeteria construction at the Junior/Senior High School and underground infrastructure work at the Elementary School. The project includes expanding security at both school entrances, replacing the roof on both schools, updating the heating and ventilation systems in both buildings, and improving lighting on both campuses. The Junior/Senior High will also have classrooms redesigned. The Elementary School will have water distribution issues addressed, and the bus loop and parking lot redesigned. The project should take 18 months to complete, finishing in the summer of 2016. The main push of construction will occur in the summer of 2015 with both campuses closed to the community and staff.
The project is 90 percent funded with state aid. The remainder Kendall will pay with capital reserve funds.
School administration officials and the board were all smiles under their white construction hats and interpreted the rainbow as a sign of good luck for this project. Junior/Senior High School Principal Carol D’Agostino was very excited to see this project kick off. She said she was part of the first seventh grade class that was housed in the building. “It’s really neat for me to be here to see the transformation take place once again,” said D’Agostino.