$10.8 million in renovations planned for Polo school districts’ three buildings

POLO – The Polo School District plans up to $10.8 million in “significant” remodeling projects at all three buildings.

The work will be financed through a bond and will not increase taxes, Superintendent Kelly Mandrell said in a letter to district families.

“If you see an increase in your taxes, it is the ‘normal’ increase that is consistent with years past,” Mandrell said in the letter. “In completing these improvements, we were able to obtain a lower interest rate, as well as preserve the building’s physical space for years to come.”

Centennial Elementary School will get new HVAC units and air conditioning, windows in older parts of the building, and new wiring. Three of the bathrooms will be remodeled and a gender-neutral bathroom will be added.

All lockers will be replaced, as will older sinks and cabinets. All the ceilings in the 1956 wing will be changed to a drop ceiling and the flooring in the pre-2000 areas will be replaced with tile and carpeting to match the wing built in 2000.

Classroom doors will also be replaced in the 1956 wing as well. A sound system will be added to the gym, as well as master clocks throughout the building, and a public announcement system.

At Aplington Middle School, all windows, the roof and iFiber will be replaced, along with all hallway lockers and the flooring in the library and the classroom connected to it. Sidewalks and curbs will be replaced.

All the master clocks and the public announcement system in the building will be replaced, including the addition of a sound system in the gym. The lighting in the gym and all the classrooms will be replaced with energy-efficient LED lights.

At Polo High School, windows and exterior doors will be replaced, air conditioning will be added, and wiring to support the new HVAC system will be upgraded.

The kitchen and cafeteria will be renovated, and a wall in the cafeteria will be removed to ease the flow of student traffic. The room will be utilized as a common space. An outdoor patio will be added.

The science labs will be renovated and get new tables, cabinetry, an eye washing/shower station, and new flooring. The home economics room’s cabinets and flooring will be upgraded. Restrooms near the ag shop will be renovated to become family/gender neutral.

“Each of these different items has an impact on the learning experience and safety, as well as the efficiency of the buildings,” Mandrell said. “To provide the best education for our students, we must ensure that our buildings are updated and are conducive to the learning process.”

An open house will be held in the fall, when the renovations are complete.