Pekin Schools discusses future improvements

            Members of the Pekin School Board were “peekin’” ahead at the future needs and wants for the school district during a work session on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

            Discussions for improvements to the school began as early as last year, but were put on hold with the district knowing it would have a new superintendent for the 2016-17 school year. With the arrival of Dave Harper, talks were resumed beginning with a work session in the late summer. Each member of the school board wrote down five areas they wanted to see improved for the school on a piece of paper. All suggestions were consolidated into a master list, with the most popular answers chosen as the board’s top priorities. Those top priorities included the following: tighter security systems for both buildings, a fine arts area upgrade, science and family consumer science room upgrades, an American Disabilities Act remodel for bathrooms to make them handicap accessible, and a remodel for the high school locker rooms.

            Another large projects includes creating new space for the seventh and eighth grade students on the east side of the campus, allowing the fifth and sixth graders more room in the elementary building, and keeping the seventh and eighth graders on the side of the building where most of their classes are held. The school also wishes to install air conditioning in the gym to keep athletes and spectators cool yearlong.

            “Most of the schools in this area are 40 years old or more, including this school,” Harper said. “We’ve come to the point where we need to consider what’s best for our education system, and ask residents about their opinion too.”

            Harper has already begun talking with parents, teachers, local Ruritans, and other organizations about the improvements, and is already seeing what will fly with the public. Early plans to move the wrestling room have been put on hold, as local taxpayers are unhappy about the idea. In previous years, the wrestling room has been moved multiple times, only to be moved again.

            “I’ve been going out and beating the bush about these changes,” Harper said. “I have coffee with parents, community members interested in what we are proposing. Do they want this change? Most do, but they have a say in it.”

            While numbers at Pekin are not quite on the rise, Harper explained that the change in how the education system functions is the cause of the need for change. Congested hallways during lunch and students having to walk from one building to another are the main reason for the new wing on the east. Harper also feels that having class sizes small is the best environment for the students, with no class having more than 30 students at once, and safe from harm.

            “In today’s world, we need to be cognizant of our student’s safety,” Harper said. “We are 15 minutes away from any law enforcement, so it’s essential that a new security system not only requires people to check in, but keeps visitors from just heading whichever direction they please once they are let in.”

            Ben Foote from Faithe-Built Architecture, a company out of Ottumwa, is advising Pekin Schools as they consider the projects. Piper Jaffray is acting as the consulting financial firm for the school, providing options for how the school will pay of the estimated 5 million dollar cost of the proposed improvements. As all items discussed in work sessions are non-action items, the school board has not made a decision of how to pay for the projects. That’s why Harper is out; listening to what the public, teachers, and board has to say to him. The discussion will lead to a vote as early as February, with the possible approval opening the doors to work beginning as soon as possible.