Winter has just begun, but at Great Bend USD 428 the administration is already thinking about summer.
Assistant Superintendent Khris Thexton shared information about recent and scheduled projects at the Dec. 12 school board meeting. (At the end of that meeting, the board accepted the retirement/resignation of Superintendent Brad Reed and Thexton was named interim superintendent.)
A project completed after the fall semester got underway was the installation of a new piece of playground equipment at Eisenhower Elementary School. This modern version of a jungle gym is dome-shaped.
“The kids love it,” Thexton said. “They’re on it all the time and they’re having a great time with it.”
The board report of the meeting adds, “The attractive, challenging units encourage student activity and companionship.”

The scheduled summer projects aren’t as fun, but they are part of the ongoing maintenance of USD 428 facilities:
• A 50-year-old boiler at the Great Bend High School Field House is undependable and needs to be replaced, Thexton said. An engineer will develop plans for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade. The project has a minimum cost estimate of $350,000.
• Carpet needs to be replaced at Riley Elementary School and at the Washington Early Childhood Center. Thexton said carpet tiles are preferred to over the “rolled goods” originally used. The estimated costs are $80,000 at Riley and $40,000 at Washington. Thexton said he would bring the specs to the board in January.
• Great Bend High School has multiple roof areas which are redone on a long-range schedule. The areas designated for summer roofing will cost about $500,000.
• In the past hail storm, skylights at GBHS and Great Bend Middle School were damaged. “The skylights are not currently leaking but will over time if they are not replaced,” Thexton said. Insurance will pay for this project. The estimated cost is $220,000 to $230,000.