BOURBON - More than 130 parents, students, teachers and other residents of the Triton school district attended a school board meeting Thursday to hear a proposal to upgrade the facilities at Triton Junior/Senior High School.

The building was built in 1968 and school officials said updates are needed.

The plan includes infrastructure upgrades with an estimated cost of $6,701,750; building additions costing $5,835,225; and renovations, $3,458,469; bringing the project total to $15,995,444.

Triton schools superintendent Ted Chittum explained the process that was followed to develop the plan. From the summer of 2003 through November, an economic feasibility committee of six patrons from each township in the Triton district worked along-side the school board with engineers, architects and financial advisors giving input and gathering information for the project.

The committee met several times touring facilities, reviewing a facility audit by engineers from Schmidt and Associates and architects from Odle McGuire & Shook Corp., and making recommendations to the board. After the audit in October, the engineers and architects gave an estimated cost of $27,494,000 to fix all of the problems they found in the system's facilities.

The committee and the board agreed $27 million was too high and began working to prioritize areas in need of improvement and narrowing down the scope of the project.

Matthew Mayol of Odle McGuire and Shook gave an outline of the project. The infrastructure upgrades would include bringing the school's sprinkler and fire alarm system up to state code, installing new efficient windows and upgrading the main distribution panel. Additions to the school would include six new classrooms, three new science labs, a physical education and activity gym, two locker rooms, a weight room, a new main entrance and central office. Renovations would include an upgraded media center, technology labs, and a nurse's office, which the school currently lacks.

Curt Pletcher, certified public accountant with HJ Umbaugh, explained the maximum property tax impact the project could have would be an increase of approximately 28 cents per $100.

"At current interest rates," said Pletcher, "the impact would be approximately 24 cents."

For the owner of a $100,000 house, the maximum tax increase would work out to be approximately $168 per year. For owners of farm land valued at $1,150 they would pay a maximum of $324 per year. Pletcher said the numbers were based on paying off the project in 20 years at an interest rate of 5.7 percent.

A portion of the meeting was devoted to hearing patrons' comments and questions on the project proposal. Voices were heard both in support of and questioning the proposal.

Steve Stichter, of Etna Green, was a member of the economic feasibility committee. He said, "The facilities we have, in my opinion, do not meet the needs. We have to make Triton School a first rate facility. Do you do your job in the same way with the same tools and in the same environment as they did 35 years ago? I don't want my tax rate to go up, but in spite of that, I think we need to do it. What we spend on the education of our children is more than worth it."

David Dinius said most of the financial burden will fall on area farmers.

"You're putting quite a burden on 15 percent of the population," he said.

Joe Scott said he fears his taxes may go up again in 2006.

"If you can guarantee in the next two reassessments my taxes aren't going to go up, I'm all for it," Scott said.

Roy Burbrink, legal counsel for Triton Schools explained to those in attendance there will be at least one more public hearing on the proposal before the board makes any decisions whether to move forward with the project.

Mayol said, once accepted, the project will take approximately two years to complete. [[In-content Ad]]