M-P gets great bids for roof work, bond refinancing

By Mary Zielinski
Bids for refinancing district debt and for a new middle school were lower than expectation and will save the Mid-Prairie School District $381,148.
“They are great bids,” said Superintendent Mark Schneider.
Low bidder for refinancing $2,675,00 in General Obligation School Refunding  bonds was D. A. Davidson & Company, Denver, Colorado, with 2.3333273 percent for the period from December 1, 2009 to June 1, 2016.  The move, which is the second time the district has done refinancing, will save Mid-Prairie $173,648 in interest costs. Other bids ranged from 2.3993690 to 3.118880.
When it came to the new roof for the MIddle School, the board accepted the low bid from Advance Builders Corporation, Cedar Rapids, of $302,500 which is $207,500 below the estimated cost of $510,000.  The bid covers both Base Bid A and Alternate Bid B.   Engineer Mitchell Kelchen with Shive-Hattery recommended accepting the bid.
Schneider noted that the large difference in estimate and bids reflects the current economy.  The roof work will be done this summer.
In other business, the  board:

• approved a sharing agreement with the Keota School district for the services of M-P Business Manager Doug Slaubaugh, starting July 1 through June 30, 2010.  Slaubaugh will remain a M-P employee who will spend about 50 percent of his time working for Keota.  As a result, Keota will pay half of his salary and benefit package.  Mid-Prairie  also will hire an assistant business manager;

• approved a 2.2 percent increase in contracts for the central office support personnel, principals, directors and Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) staff.  Specifically, they are Judy Goodrich and Cindy Malichky, $36,060 base, $46,842 with benefits; Steve Hollan, Washington Township lead teacher, $4,0421 stipend; High School Principal Gerry Beeler, $97,493 base, $126,983 total package; Kalona Elementary Principal Jim Cayton, $75,067 base, but was due a $2,000 step increase (arranged at the time he was hired) for a total package of $103,636; Transportation Director Dick Durst, $51,166 base, $73,973 total; Technology Director Sean Flockhart, $46,024 base, $58,702 total; Middle School Principal Nancy Hurd, $82,864 base, $110,262 total; Assistant Transportation director Jeff Lintz, $31,971 base, $42,169; Wellman and Washington Township Elementary Principal Evan Parrott, $82,564 base, $109,918 total; Activities Director Don Showalter, $34,929 base, $45,832 total; Doug Slaubaugh, $64,617 base, $86,974 total.  Jan Childress, HSAP coordinator and Rose Schrock, HSAP assistant coordinator asked for no increase, remaining at $64,423 and $42,913 respectively.  Other HSAP staff received 25 cents per hour increase bringing them to $26.25 per hour.  They are Andrea Farrier, Crystal Gingerich, Linda Adams and Vivian Hochstedler.  Superintendent Schneider asked for no increase with a base salary of $111,466 and a total package of $142,954;

• approved a resolution to provide the remaining Teacher Quality Market Factor Pay funds to teachers who were trying to gain or gained certification in teacher shortage areas identified by the Iowa Department of education.  The state funded program was discontinued this year;

• approved a full time equivalent preschool teacher for the Mid-Prairie Preschool Program, funded  from the state preschool grant. Schneider said there will be about 12 more preschool students next year.  Plans calls for four sections in Kalona, three in Wellman (with the use of the Parkside Activities Center) and one at Washington Township;

• approved a Washington Township media secretary, a full time position created by changing a half-time secretary and a half-time associate position; and

• approved changing the bid opening for thew high school elevator project from May 7 to June 2;

• received a report from the Math Committee showing that Mid-Prairie students rank in the 88 to 95 percentile in national tests;

• hired Justin Young ($28,034) for 7th grade social studies, replacing Jay Bickford ($42,321); Anne Schlabaugh, sophomore volleyball coach, $2,523, replacing sarah Puttman and Justin Lutjen, assistant volleyball coach, $2,620 replacing Sarah Kos ($2,613); and

• accept the resignations of Norman Brooks, 5th grade band; Collette McClellen, middle school vocal music; Luetta Ropp, elementary vocal music and Renee Fisher, 7th grade volleyball coach.