Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus makes a presentation to County Council regarding the school district’s proposed capital improvement projects to some of its lease facilities. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Los Alamos Public Schools officials presented three capital improvement projects to Los Alamos County Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night in hopes the Council will approve capital improvement funds for the projects at a future meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus discussed the projects, which focus on three facilities the school district leases to Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Department of Energy. The first project addresses Pueblo Complex, which is leased to LANL. The hope is to replace walls, interior shelving and baseboard radiators. Additionally, the project would improve insulation in the walls as well as high efficiency windows. A new exterior finish would elastomeric finish would repel moisture.
The second project addresses Mesa Complex, which is located on the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos campus. The building is partially leased to LANL. Steinhaus explained half the building was recently renovated and the school district is looking to renovate the other half. The project, which would be a joint effort between LAPS and LANL, would include remodeling the bathrooms to be ADA compliant and replace roof top units as well as increase rental occupancy.
The third project is for the Pajarito Complex, which is leased to LANL and DOE. The project would address the drainage issues with the roof and hire a contractor to install sloped drainage. Steinhaus said the front entrance would be replaced, too.
Councilor Pete Sheehey asked about the costs for these projects and Steinhaus said rough estimates ranged from $175,000 to $125,000.
Sheehey also wondered if the Pajarito Complex improvement project might address the building’s gym space, since the school districts’ gyms are in high demand.
Steinhaus said LAPS has addressed gym spaces at other facilities. For instance, the floor in Griffith Gym was replaced and the gym floor at Mountain Elementary School will be replaced. He added the County’s funds are given to the school district to be used on leased facilities in order to increase lease revenue. If the money was used for improving the Pajarito Complex’s gym it would be for a different purpose and wouldn’t comply with the County’s CIP requirements.
