Board moves forward with $4 million construction project

by Ranee Fladung
Monday the Highland School Board moved one step closer toward its $4 million construction project by approving the plans, specifications and estimates for additions to the high school and middle school, utility upgrades to the high school and remodeling the stage at Ainsworth.

We don’t need any large surprises

Board member Bruce Temple was the only dissenting vote noting he had concerns about having the same problems as an adjoining district. Board secretary Bev Colbert explained there are safe guards in place. “The public hearing is a formality, if bids come in under or over the estimates then they would have to adjust and recalculate finances. We never know until we get the final bill what the cost is going to be,” she said. “We don’t need any large surprises.” The architect and ICAP team will be checking to make sure things are getting done before contractors are paid and the board will approve each payment.
A breakdown of the estimated costs are $167,250 for the utility upgrades, $75,105 to remodel the Ainsworth Elementary stage, $3,520,477 for the high school and middle school additions and $230,000 for an middle school locker rooms which was an alternate.
Superintendent Chris Armstrong said seven general contractors were at the prebid meeting and more than 45 documents were printed and distributed to possible contractors. “There have been a lot of people rummaging around and taking a look at the roof,” said Armstrong.
Construction bids will be opened at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and awarded along with bond bids during a special meeting that night at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library.
In other business, the board:

• approved the 2008-09 budget amendment by a 6-1 vote with Temple voting against. Colbert explained that the amendment “doesn’t increase any taxes, no levying anymore money, and the district will not borrow any more money. This was not allocated when the budget was done last year but we knew it was going to be there.” Only $36,000 was budgeted and it was increased to $1,050,000 due to the construction project;
• tabled the ICAT agreement services contract until several questions could be answered regarding the fee and time spent on-site;
• approved the budget estimate for $15,96 per 1,000 valuation;
• adopted the ISCAP for the 2009-10 school year. Colbert explained the district has participated in the ISCAP since it began in 1985, but they have only had to use Series A which covers the school during low cash months of August and September. Armstrong said, “As we continue to build our cash reserves we will have less and less need to use this.”
• heard from Grant Wood AEA Chief Administrator Ron Fielder and Regional Administrator Marsha Reitzler about the services provided to the district by Grant Wood AEA;
• set the next regular board meeting for May 11, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the high school library;
• accepted the resignations of Todd Hahn as junior high football coach and Nik Peterson as junior high baseball position; and
• appointed Nate Kasdorf as assistant soccer coach and Joel Diederichs as junior high baseball coach.