Why Is Langdon Area Schools Proposing A Referendum?
Langdon Area Schools’ two school buildings – the elementary and middle/high school – have served our students and communities well over the course of several decades. But like any building or equipment, they require regular maintenance and updates as infrastructure becomes worn out or can no longer meet the needs of our students.
Our current buildings have reached the age where many fundamental parts of their infrastructure need such maintenance. Unfortunately, the combined costs of these updates have grown much faster than our annual maintenance budget can pay for them. In many cases, the cost for a single project is equivalent to several times this budget.
The building fund levy is 3 mills, which levies approximately $123,000 per year for building repairs and investments. By comparison, the cost to replace past-warranty roofing at the elementary school would be $1.3 million alone.
Our district has recognized this problem for many years now. In the last five years, we have asked voters to consider three mill levy increases that would increase our building fund, which voters rejected. Between these attempts, we have had to use general fund dollars to help fund major projects like replacing the elementary school’s HVAC system and portions of the high school HVAC system. We have also used a grant to upgrade to efficient LED lighting and replace the security cameras.
Today, the most pressing needs and challenges at our two school buildings include:
A lack of entryway security at both buildings: During the school day there is no secure way for staff to screen or control visitors once they have been buzzed in. The main doors to both buildings are unlocked and there is no secure way for staff to screen or control who is granted access.
Outdated and incomplete heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC): Portions of the current HVAC system at the high school still contain obsolete components, and do not provide adequate ventilation to meet today’s indoor air quality standards.
Spaces that do not meet handicap accessibility requirements: Bathrooms at both buildings were not designed to accommodate users with disabilities, which impacts students, staff, and visitors.
Obsolete electrical systems: Electrical panels and breakers at both buildings are so old that replacement parts and repairs are difficult or impossible to find. This makes maintenance slower, costlier and increases the risk of malfunctions that can’t be fixed.
Old and worn-out interior finishes including doors, cabinets, and flooring: Decades of constant use have taken a toll on flooring, doors and cabinetry. Much of the flooring in need of replacement is believed to contain asbestos.
Worn or damaged building exterior: Roofs, brick, caulking, and fascia that have experienced years of wear must be repaired or replaced to prevent water intrusion and protect building integrity.
In addition to these maintenance needs, our community and staff repeatedly highlighted how space limitations at the elementary school are significantly impacting the quality of physical education, athletics, performances, and dining for students and staff.
No dedicated gymnasium: A single room at the elementary school is used for all indoor physical education, activities, performances, breakfasts and lunches. This dual use creates frequent scheduling conflicts – especially when recesses and physical education classes are held indoors due to inclement weather – and limits the activities that can be hosted. Staff spend significant time each day transitioning the room back and forth between uses.
Parking and drop-off concerns: Parking at the elementary school is limited, and students must be picked up and dropped off on the shoulder of the road each day. This creates traffic and safety concerns for drivers and pedestrians alike, and limits the school’s ability to host events with larger numbers of visitors.
Now, our district is proposing a referendum to address all of these needs as part of a single, comprehensive plan.
This video captures all that happens over the course of a single day in Langdon Area Elementary School's current cafeteria/gymnasium. It is used practically non-stop during the school day, which requires constant cleaning, set up, tear down, and makes it very difficult to manage the schedule for its use.