July 28, 2008
As required by state statute, the USD 470 Board of Education selected the construction company with the strongest overall scoring to be the Construction Manager At-Risk.
The board selected Hutton Construction to oversee selected bond projects and authorized district administration to work with legal services to develop and negotiate a contract for the services.
Proposals for the job were made to the board during a special two-day meeting July 21 and 22, 2008. The proposals came from four companies: Simpson, Hutton, Coonrod and Conco.
Following the presentations, the board considered eight pre-determined categories of quality and goodness-of-fit for the priorities recommended by the original review committee. Input was also received from maintenance personnel, administration and the board architect.
The school board meeting agenda listed approving the 2008-2009 Notice of Hearing, used for publishing the school districtÕs budget, as an action item. The discussion, however, led board members to table the issue and resume discussion at a later date.
The main item of concern appeared to be the shortage of $150,000 in tax monies from the county that would have gone into the Supplemental General Fund (LOB). The lack in funds is due to delinquent (late and/or unpaid) taxes throughout the county and several governmental entities are feeling the effects.
ÒThis is a hard time for all involved,Ó Dr. Ron Ballard, superintendent, said. ÒIt is completely out of our control and we have no choice but to deal with this accordingly.Ó
Board members talked in length about how the district might be able to lessen the burden on local taxpayers and where cutbacks might possibly be made but were unable to determine a specific answer to the issue.
The district will also be absorbing approximately $311,000 in projected fuel and energy increases over the next year, making it hard to not increase the budget.
The board will continue its discussion regarding the 2008-2009 budget at its next regular board meeting set for August 11 at 7p.m. in the district office. The budget hearing, originally scheduled to take place that day has been postponed until further notice from the board.
In other news, the board:
á Called the meeting to order.
á Recognized visitors.
á Approved the agenda and consent agenda.
á Recognized the following staff resignations:
Carolyn Doerksen Ð Learner Support at Frances Willard
Celi Goff Ð Library Aide at Adams
Saundra Hayes Ð Family Service Worker at Head Start
á Accepted a Migrant Family Literacy Grant Award in the amount of $70,586 for 2008-2009. The funds come from the Kansas State Department of Education.
á Recognized the following new staff:
Andrea Crafton Ð Teacher at Adams
á Accepted bids for fuel from Two Rivers and Waldeck Oil Company.
á Accepted the low bid from Ricoh Corporation for 880 cases of white paper for general copying and printing purposes throughout the district.
á Discussed bond proceeds investment possibilities.
á Discussed substitute teacher pay.
á Adjourned.