The Galesburg Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education approved more than $4 million in facility improvements, including a $1.8 million baseball complex project and an estimated $2.5 million schedule of summer maintenance upgrades.

During a special Feb. 23 meeting, the board awarded a $1,796,000 construction contract for baseball facility improvements and approved architectural planning tied to additional districtwide projects expected to move forward this summer.

The board voted to award a contract to Valley Commercial Construction for upgrades at the baseball complex, including a new concessions and restroom building, safety renovations and an enclosed press box. The total includes a $1,678,000 base bid and a $118,000 alternate for the press box enclosure.

Funding for the project comes from the 1 percent facilities tax. Work will start after the 2026 baseball season is finished. The project is expected to be substantially complete by Nov. 13, 2026, according to bid documents.

Superintendent Dr. John Asplund said the improvements will address aging infrastructure and improve the experience for spectators and athletes alike.

“Getting the new storage, concession and restrooms will be a big addition for our community,” Asplund said after the meeting. Replacing the existing bleachers, he added, is “more of a safety thing, but it will also look a lot better and be a better viewing experience for the fans.”

Nine bids were submitted for the project, giving the district what Asplund described during the meeting as strong competition and favorable pricing.

Board members also briefly discussed future needs at the softball field, including the potential need to enclose a press box there in the coming years to ensure comparable facilities. Asplund suggested the district may explore involving students in the building trades program in the future.

Pool consulting agreement approved

The board also approved bid documents from Counsilman-Hunsaker for consulting services related to improvements at the high school pool.

Board member Rodney Phelps said the work is driven in part by deferred major maintenance and compliance requirements.

“When you have water present in the school system, the ADA requirements are elevated to a whole other level,” Phelps said during discussion.

Asplund said the recommended work is designed to keep the facility viable while the district considers longer-term solutions. He added later that a committee is being formed to analyze possible long-term solutions over the coming months.

“We feel like this is the best lane to pick right now that gives us space to have time to figure out a long-term solution,” he said during the meeting.

The current scope is not expected to require draining the pool and should cause only minor disruptions to activities, Asplund said.

Summer 2026 maintenance projects

In addition to the baseball and pool items, the board approved an agreement with Legat Architects for summer 2026 maintenance projects.

The proposal outlines improvements at multiple sites, including flooring replacement at Steele Elementary School, exterior door replacements, parking lot work and athletic facility upgrades. Budget parameters for the broader project list are estimated at $2.5 million.

Asplund told the board the district is considering a short-term loan, to be repaid within five years using revenue from the district’s 1 percent facilities sales tax, to front-load projects while construction costs continue to rise.

“We believe that the cost to do the work will increase faster than the rate of what the interest would be on the loan,” he said, calling it a way to save money over time.

The board did not formally approve the loan, Asplund explained. It provides the administration with permission to pursue a potential loan, which would be approved by the board.

Board members also discussed potentially bidding on certain parking lot projects in concrete as an alternative to asphalt if pricing is competitive, citing long-term maintenance savings.

All projects, except for work at Silas Willard Elementary School, are scheduled to be completed by Nov. 13, Asplund said. The work at Willard is scheduled to be finished before school begins in the fall.

Audit contract renewed

The board also approved a three-year audit services agreement with Lauterbach & Amen for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Annual total costs are listed at $53,000 for FY 2026, $55,500 for FY 2027 and $58,000 for FY 2028.

Asplund said the district is required by law to conduct annual audits and has limited options for firms willing to serve school districts. During discussion, board member Maury Lyon asked questions about internal financial controls and safeguards against fraud, with administrators outlining multistep approval processes for expenditures.

“We have systems in place where multiple people have to handle any line item in a budget, any expenditure,” Asplund responded. “We have no single point of failure. There will never be a time where we can 100 percent guarantee that people couldn’t steal, but the goal is to get more people involved. You have to have at least three people involved in any theft here, at least, if not more.”

Why a special meeting?

Asplund said after the meeting that the board called a special meeting to keep summer construction timelines on track.

Because building specifications were modified in January, the district did not have enough time to keep the items on the regular February agenda. Holding a special meeting allowed bids to be awarded sooner and ensured projects could move forward without delay.

The actions position the district for an active summer construction season, with multiple facility improvements scheduled across athletic and academic spaces.

All votes were unanimous; however, board members Jake Taylor and Rod Scherpe were not present.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 9 in the district office.