Board Meets with Financial Advisor

 

 

USD 442 – Nemaha Valley Schools

Special Board of Education Meeting

June 28, 2007

 

 At the final school board meeting for fiscal year 2007, the board members received a report from a bond financial advisor in anticipation of a bond election that will be needed to complete the financing of a new pre-K through eight facility with gymnasium south of Nemaha Valley High School.  The option for an auditorium was also included in the study. Mr. Steve Shogren with George K. Baum & Company, Wichita, gave examples of how the mill levy will be affected and the end result on local property taxes.  He also explained the timeline that needs to be followed leading up to a bond election.  He reviewed his fee schedule which consists of two parts.  The first being for financial advisement; the second part would be to help with the bond campaign.  Mr. Shogren will receive payment for his services only if the bond issue is passed.  The board approved his services as a financial advisor at this time and will consider his proposal to help with the campaign at a later date.

Superintendent Brian Harris updated board members on the progress being made for classroom facilities for next school year.  Three modular units have arrived and work is moving along well on the repairs in the remaining grade school classrooms.  Due to additional space needed for junior high classes, an additional modular unit has been ordered for the junior high.  This additional unit will bring the total number of modulars to five. The remaining two units should arrive in mid-July.   Mr. Harris reviewed the costs of the modular units, site preparation for the modular units, and repairs to the remaining building at 709 Nemaha.  He stressed that all these costs are covered by insurance but will not be deducted from the building settlement of $4.9 million.  Members authorized Mr. Harris to sign a Proof of Loss statement in order for the district to receive money from the insurance company.

A demolition bid for the destroyed 1938 grade school building from McPherson Wrecking, Grantville, was approved for the amount of $124,100.  Two other bids were received:  $144,040 from DECO, Kansas City; and $232,642, AHRS Construction, Bern. Demolition is to be complete by August 1.

The contract for 2007-08 with the Nemaha Valley Teachers Association was approved.  The overall contract cost is 4.28% which includes a 16% increase in health insurance fringe.  The average teacher salary will increase 3.42%.  Contracts were also approved for the school psychologist and speech-language pathologists.

Representatives from Durham School Services, the district’s bus contractor, approached the board for approval for the elimination of a bus route.  Due to the low numbers of actual riders, a plan was presented to combine the current five routes into four.  No student will have to ride the bus for more than one hour. After review of route maps, the board members approved the request.

A part-time teaching contract was approved for Sarah Renyer who will replace Carrie Kohake who had resigned to take a full-time position in another school.  Two new members were approved for the Seneca Grade School Site Council, Dona Willmeth and Amy Lierz. They will replace Mike Kuckelman and Joyce Boeckman.

In other year-end business, the board accepted a Physical Education Program federal grant on behalf of the School-Business Consortium and approved expenditures for the grant funds.

The board approved a milk bid from Robert’s Dairy and a bid from Honeyman Ford for an Expedition EL XLT to replace the 1999 Suburban that will be traded.

Horst, Terrill & Karst, architects, will be asked to evaluate the track surface and provide cost estimates for repair for consideration in the fall.

The first meeting for fiscal year 2008 will be on Monday, July 16.  Members will tour the modular units and remaining facility at 709 Nemaha.

Board Selects Location for New Grade School 

 

 

Special Board Meeting

June 6, 2007

Nemaha Valley school board members voted to have plans developed for a new pre-kindergarten through eighth grade building and gymnasium south of the high school at a special meeting on June 6, 2007.  Approximately 65 patrons attended the meeting held in the high school commons.

            This was one of three options that a public planning committee had presented to the public in two recent meetings.  The other two options considered were to rebuild at the 709 Nemaha site or to build two buildings, one at 709 Nemaha and a junior high south of the high school.  An auditorium was approved as part of the planning process at this time with a final decision to be made at a later date.

            Horst, Terrill & Karst architects will now develop more specific plans for the building which will be approximately 12,000 square feet larger than the previous building.  Included in the additional square footage will be a larger gym, a pre-kindergarten room, a teacher workroom, a larger science room, and additional square footage for special education areas.  The architects will be meeting with administrators and teachers during the summer as to what will need to go into the building. 

            Board members will be meeting with a bond agent in the next few weeks to seek information on a bond election.  Preliminary cost estimates show that the insurance settlement and capital outlay funds will not cover the entire cost of the new building.

            The board agreed to discuss the future of the remaining building at 709 Nemaha until a later time. 

            Principal architect, Keith Blackburn stated that repair work has begun on the remaining structure at 709 Nemaha.  He said that work is on schedule and the rooms should be ready for students on August 15.  Modular units should be arriving in the next two to three weeks.  Demolition bids will be out the week of June 11 and all demolition should be complete before students return.