Delays concern Highland board

Highland Board of Education members Monday expressed concerns about delays in the $3.5 million school improvement project, to the point they were reluctant to approve further payments to the contractor.
However, Superintendent Chris Armstrong stressed that the payment is for work that was done.
After further discussion, noting that only 10 percent of the project is done, the board approved payments, but emphasized it wants the contractor to know it is not happy with the lack of progress. The board also wanted to know where the construction manager has been and why Saturdays were not used to make up delays.
Amounts approved were $129,257 to Bi-State Contracting; $31,061 to Mohrfeld Electric and $74,021 to S. G. Construction.
The board also approved the $39,779 bid for kitchen equipment for which the district received a Washington County Riverboat Foundation (WCRF) grant.
On the positive side, the remodeling of the gym stage into classroom space at Ainsworth Elementary will be finished before classes resume, the board was told.
In other business, the board:

• approved the purchase of a new 65 passenger school bus for $67,695 from School Bus Sales;
• learned that the General Fund is down by $180,000 because of state cuts, non-budgeted textbooks and other items and were told by Board Secretary Bev Colbert, “We will have to really watch this year”;
• accepted the fuel bid from Consumers Cooperative for gasohol at $1.85 per gallon, diesel for $1.94 and winter blend for $1.98. Prices are guaranteed for a year;
• approved the Special Education delivery plan; and
• set its next meeting for September 14.