Officials at Rochelle Township High School approved a 1.8 million dollar proposal last night dealing with their school bus facility currently located off Flagg Road near Illinois 251.
The plan is to demolished the south building and construction of a new facility along with renovation work on the north building. Both school districts in Rochelle currently use the 2 buildings.
RTHS Superintendent Jamie Craven said that the cost came in higher than he expected. The district plans to refinance their 2006 bond series to pay for the buildings.
The new building will include office space and a break room for workers along with a fire protection system. The renovated building will have a maintenance area along with room to park the school buses.
There is currently no water or sanitary sewer at either building. There will also be some contaminated soil in the area. The 2 buildings are not located in the city limits.
Craven hopes that the project is completed this fall. He also said there would be a lease agreement between RTHS and the Rochelle Elementary district once the work is completed.
The other option the RTHS board considered was demolishing both buildings and keeping the school buses outside in a fenced area. They decided that the buses needed to be indoors at night and in the winter.
The board approved the resignation of technology teacher Chris Morrison at the end of the school year. They also OK'd the lease agreements for a 14 passenger bus and a wheelchair accessible van that will be used by OCEC. The organization will pay back the district for the van over a 5-year lease agreement.
The board met in executive session, but no action was taken.
