The national economic upheaval brought a welcome benefit to the Emporia school district as it considered approval Wednesday night for new bids for an addition and improvements to Village School.
The board had approved the addition during the 2007-08 school year, but voted to put the project on hold last year, after approximately 1,700 jobs at Tyson Fresh Meats were eliminated on Jan. 25.
New bids on the project were opened Dec. 18, with the low bid from Combes Construction of Olathe coming in at $1,049,000 for the addition and changes within the existing building.
The board had asked for alternate bids to add a new ceiling, new lights, and other improvements in the cafeteria and to pour a new concrete play area measuring 75 feet by 120 feet to replace one that will be removed to accommodate the addition.
The bids from Combes for the two alternates — $28,000 for the cafeteria work and $38,000 for the concrete play area — brought the total cost of the project to $1,115,000.
The bid was $242,470 under the architect’s original estimates and $308,000 under budget.
After discussion, the board approved the bid and both alternates on a 6-0 vote. Board member Grant Riles was absent.
After a slide presentation by Village Principal Wendy Moore, showing the cramped quarters many of the students occupy during the day, board member Mike Helbert commented in favor of the project.
“I hope the taxpayers understand that literally you are using closets for teaching,” Helbert said. “... I want the taxpayers to know this money has already been budgeted. The money’s there. It’s not going to raise their property taxes. And it is a unique opportunity to save about a quarter-million dollars” on construction costs.
The board already had encumbered funds for the project before it was delayed by the Tyson announcement.
Board president Angie Schreiber said she had two questions before the issue came to a vote. The first was to get assurance that all of the specifications had been met by the construction company in its bid.
“I know it’s a greenhorn question, but,” Schreiber said.
Hollis & Miller representatives said that the detailed specs had been met by Combes.
“If the Legislature decides not to give us new facilities weighting, can we still afford this building?” Schreiber asked.
“Yes,” Superintendent John Heim replied.
A portion of the original proposal for Village, which involved heating and cooling, already has been completed. The section was removed from the full construction proposal last year because of the pressing need for the improvements.
Local subcontractors for the job are Grimmett Masonry, Groh & Sons Roofing and Sheet Metal, Modern Air Conditioning and Shelley Electric.
The board also agreed on a 6-0 vote to purchase a new district-wide Cisco telephone system at a cost of $515,975 from Alexander Open Systems, an out-of-town company that has installed similar systems throughout the Kansas City area and the state.
The company’s bid was $257,049.40 less than the highest proposal, from Mitel, and $74,111.06 more than the lowest proposal.
Stutler Technology of Emporia was one of six vendors that bid on the system; two of the bids from outside vendors did not meet specifications.
Stutler’s bid did meet specs but was $150,000 more than the bid from AOS.
The district has applied for reimbursement through “E-rate,” a federal funding program for schools and libraries to enable students to be able to access the Internet and for schools to have phone systems. The number of low-income students in the district may help the district be declared eligible for the funds.
The district has approximately $261,620 from the Microsoft Kansas Action Settlement reserved to assist with the purchase.
The board also approved purchasing Cisco network equipment from Alexander at a low bid of $141,532.
The board approved the second draft of a district policy on reporting fraud, with wording tweaked by board member Mike Helbert to further clarify that the district prohibits retaliation for making good faith complaints, reports, or inquiries covered by the policy, and against retaliation against staff members who participate in a review or investigation under the policy.
A group of migrant parents made a presentation to the board to tell what they had learned from a recent conference in Topeka.
Among the information gained were choices for educational programs, how to build confidence in children, how to become a better parent, the importance of parental participation in education, and how to be advocates for their children.
“In the name of all my family, we give you thanks,” said Violeta Rangel, one of many parents who spoke at the meeting.
Staff from Timmerman Elementary School presented a “hands-on experience” to show what the district’s professional learning communities do to improve student learning.
The board approved the following items on the consent agenda:
F Decided to take bids to replace two 71-passenger 1994 buses, one 52-passenger 1993 wheelchair lift bus and one nine-passenger 1985 Chevrolet Suburban.
F Hired Bob Charlesworth of Charlesworth & Associates for $6,500 to work with the district in preparing insurance proposal specifications, selecting agents and market assignments, and receiving and reviewing proposals for insurance coverage for the district.
F Made an agreement with the Flint Hills Technical College to allow certain courses as “dual enrollment” classes to satisfy Emporia High School graduation requirements as well as the requirements of the Kansas Board of Regents to meet college credit hours.
F Let bids for second-semester paper and supplies for the district.
F Signed an agreement with the city to ensure the district continues to receive payments that will total $20,000 from local alcohol taxes for calendar year 2009.
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
I guess I don't understand what the problems are in the school district. We lose the students and we drop in size, we build two new schools, close one down and told we are set to handle the district students. Times are very close and instead of putting the extra money in a building fund, we are going to spend $l.1 million. I think we need to wait and hold the funds in reserve for at least six months to see where the economy will take us. I think we also need to wait and not spend half a million on a phone system. We have to plan to keep things running but need to do so with great care.
January 16, 2009 at 1:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )