Public school board moves forward with boardroom upgrades
The Roy H. Wilfong boardroom will not only receive a facelift but also a space shift in order to address upgrades and board office capacity.
Trustees approved recommendations made in a previous report by Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board facilities service senior officer Glen Payne during Tuesday’s board meeting.
The report detailed the need to make significant improvements to the Roy H. Wilfong Boardroom, which has not been upgraded since it opened more than 20 years ago. Last fall, the board approved improvements to the space which were included in the board’s project and maintenance plan for the current school year.
However, as plans for the boardroom upgrade progressed, the school board said it became apparent that the current challenges with lack of office space at the Education Centre might also be resolved if the boardroom was relocated. Salter Pilon Architecture Inc. was brought in to provide a preliminary design.
These proposed upgrades included more seating space for both trustees and senior administration, incorporating technical needs of blended in-person and virtual meetings for greater public engagement, a larger presentation space for students, staff and delegates, a larger and more welcoming and open public gallery space for all participants, and modernizing technology and safety elements to serve the board for the next 20 or more years.
Trustees were assured they would have opportunity to fine tune the proposed design — including layout, decor and options to improve natural lighting in the room — as the project progresses.
Although some of the costs were up for discussion in the board’s closed session, the project has already been approved and included in the board’s capital budget.
With the board’s approval of the proposed renovations and upgrades, staff will move forward with publicly tendering the project.