To receive a full design spec from Collaborative Design would commit the district to have hired them as architect, and ensue an initial cost of about $3100.
“We have to go with one or the other,” said Superintendent Kevin Wellen.
“We need to go ahead with those windows immediately,” pointed out board member Michele Moxon.
After some discussion, the board approved a decision to hire The Wald as architect for the district, let them do the Ellendale windows, and based on that experience, either solicit a proposal from them for the kitchen/cafeteria, or dismiss them and go with Collaborative Design.
Health and Safety dollars could be available to offset some of these costs.
Calendar
In old business, board members continued the discussion from last month about whether to approve three or four late-start teacher in-service days. The example calendar included late-starts on Oct. 2, Dec. 4, Feb. 5 and Mar. 5. The days would be spaced every two months, except for the day in March, which would be early in order not to conflict with MCA testing.
Dissatisfaction with the uneven spacing influenced the board to go with just the three days, and forego the one proposed for March.
Proposed reductions
The only change in programs and staff for the coming year, reported Wellen, will be a possible .17 FTP added to Beth Schoenrock’s elementary physical eduaction contract dependent on the addition of wood shop II. But if there turns out to be a fourth kindergarten section, this change will be undone.
“It’s pleasant,” board chair Rick Schultz reflected, “to take two minutes to discuss changes and reductions, after all these years.”
Donations
The district approved the following donations: $1,000 from the David Swenson Memorial for Shop Class, $180 from the New Richland Firemen’s Relief Association for Eagle Bluff, $150 from the NR Firemen for EFCE, and $499 from the NRHEG PTO for iPads.
“We still haven’t decided,” Wellen commented, “whether we’re going with iPads or tablets.”
Plumbing
A $40 check to Western Rentals had a story attached. There was a leakage in the air exchange room next to the locker rooms in New Richland, resulting in eight inches of water on the floor. An old sump pump was taken from the Ellendale site to help, but it was too small to do the job by itself.
A call to Western Rentals for an additional sump pump provoked a reply: “We’re not sure if we have one of those. We may have sold them all.”
One was produced, at which time Wellen said to the representative, “As long as we’re talking about selling, what would you take for one of those?”
A quote is forthcoming.
“It might be worth it,” Wellen told the board, “to have one on hand if this should happen again.”
