Dover News

 

Hector accepts construction bid

By Van A. Tyson
The Hector School Board accepted a bid on its building project, after reducing the cost $1 million to fit available funds, at a called meeting Wednesday, Feb. 13.
VEI was the low bidder. The accepted price was $3,681,762, reduced by $4,799,000 by eliminating
a classroom and other items in negotiations VEI employees. Terry Epperson, board president, left the room because he is an officer of VEI. The bid had preliminary
approval from the state Board of Education, as long as bidding was conducted, but it is subject to final approval before the contract can be executed.
The project will be paid for with $1,500,000 income from the bond issue and $2,524,598 from state school facilities funding. The architect’s fee is $257,724.
The project includes a new gymnasium with ventilation using fans and louvers, as well as heating
and air conditioning. It is for physical education requirements and other purposes.
The board also adopted a resolution
stating full disclosure about Epperson’s connection with VEI. It was signed by Sherri Selman, board vice president.
Scott Nielsen of VEI architect Jo Minden attended the meeting.
Principals rehired
After a 43-minute executive session, the board voted unanimously
on Superintendent Karen Smith’s recommendation, to extend the contracts of the two principals through 2008-09.
They are Chris Rink, high school, for $61,550, and Kathy Freeman, elementary, for $59,500.
In other personnel matters, on Smith’s recommendation, the board voted to
• hire Will Day as a full-time bus driver for the Tilly route, and
• pay Shelly Frew an additional
$11.30 a day for the second semester for a class that was added to her schedule.
The board also approved the superintendent’s recommendation
to purchase an 84-passenger Bluebird bus from Central Bus Sales for $89,890. The bus will be used for trips and extra-curricular
activities and will be paid for out of next year’s budget. She said this was a good price for the “Cadillac of buses.”
The board approved the purchase
of a new basketball floor surfacing by GymMaster. It will cost less than $10,000 and will be paid for with income from a charity
basketball game, including policemen and a pie supper. She said they would save $3,000 by having it done now.
Smith told the board the school will purchase computers and Microsoft Office software with two payments of $28,000 from a Microsoft settlement.
She also said the school would have Hat Day on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, and funds raised would be sent to Atkins for tornado relief.
The board approved a revised calendar for this year because of weather closings. The changes were to grading and attendance periods.
The board scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m.
All board members were present,
including President Terry Epperson, Vice President Sherri Selman, Secretary Tony Haley, Carolyn Cook and Todd Fountain.