The Wellsville-Middletown R-I School District is asking community members to approve a $1.9 million no-tax-increase bond issue in the April 4 election that will help pay for improvements at the elementary and high schools.

The projects include replacing the metal roof, metal siding, insulation, metal gutters at the elementary school and removing asbestos flooring at the high school.

Ten years ago, community members approved the school district’s no-tax-increase bond issue called Proposition Safe and Sound Schools, which included projects such as adding camera surveillance, providing new exterior doors, replacing windows and the roof on the original high school and fixing sidewalks and the parking lot.

If this year’s bond passes, the district will work with architects and engineers to start the bidding process.

“Because the district’s facility and grounds needs now require more funding that can be completed within the regular district’s budget, a bond issue is in order to help pay for these needs,” W-M Superintendent Dr. Erin Oligschlaeger said in a statement. “The district has the ability to run a $1.9 million bond issue this April that will extend our debt. But it will not require an additional levy.”

The bond issue is called Proposition K.I.D.S. and has a committee that includes former school board members Mike Henderson and Christine Detienne. Jessica Penn, who is a parent, created a Facebook page that will include news on the project.

During a meeting on Jan. 12, the W-M School Board approved to pursue the bond issue in the April election. Ten days later, board members met to make plans for the project list, which is divided into two tiers.

There are three projects in tier one. The first project is targeted at the elementary school, which was built in 1993. The roof, siding, insulation, gutters and doors need to be replaced. Also, an entrance on the northeast corner of the building next to the office. The project will cost between $900,000 and $1 million.

“This project will make the elementary building more energy efficient, allow our HVAC to operate without having to compensate for the outside temperatures and provide the elementary office staff the ability to perform business transactions without allowing people inside the secure building which is further protection for our staff and students,” Oligschlaeger said.

The second project will focus on the high school. Asbestos flooring in the hallway and classrooms needs to be removed, the high school entrance has to be renovated, welding booths and exhaust in the Ag Shop need to be installed. The cost of the project is over $300,000.

The third project is upgrading the kitchen, which will also cost over $300,000.

The second tier has one project, which is underdrainage piping across the parking lot and an asphalt overlay on the concrete parking lot. It will cost between $250,000-$270,000.

“If funds remain after this project, the Board of Education will revisit the remaining list of items which will include the remaining bathroom remodels, tectum panels for sound in the gym and baseball field lights,” Oligschlaeger said. “None of these projects have been considered at this time.”