By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Information provided at Monday's meeting of the Wayne Community School Board will mean the district can move forward with the construction/renovation project without having to make any major changes or cuts to the project.
Steve Thiele with Hausmann Construction, the Construction Manager at Risk for the project, told the board that the dollar amounts and important contract dates have been added to the document.
He said the cost for the project will be $25,072,766 with bids from subcontractors being finalized in the coming weeks.
"I feel we are in a really good spot. We got everything we were hoping for with the project without any major cuts. We are right on budget in regard to the bond," Thiele said.
He also shared information with the board in regard to some of the numbers in the Guaranteed Maximum Pricing (GMP) document and talked about different portions of the project and the process the district and the construction company will go through in coming months.
He said fencing will go up around the construction area west of the Activity Center in the near future and dirt work could begin within the next two weeks.
In conjunction with the construction project, the board approved Payment Application No. 1 to Hausmann Construction for $384,288.10.
These payment applications will come before the board on a regular basis as work on the project continues.
Board members gave first reading approval to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the city of Wayne for the purchase of the Community Activity Center.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Lenihan told the board that the memorandum has been reviewed by attorneys with the Perry Law firm.
He said the memorandum allows "both parties to begin negotiations in good faith and move forward with discussions."
He added that any time two entities (city, county, school district, college) want to do an MOU, "it has to be beneficial to both parties."
Board members did discuss items at the Activity Center that the city would be responsible should the district purchase the building.
Several members of the board questioned how the purchase would benefit the school and how the spaces would be used during the day.
Dr. Lenihan encouraged patrons to contact him with any questions or concerns on the issue.
In other action, the board approved the First Student Bus Contract Amendment.
Dr. Lenihan told the board the district is in the final year of the contract with the company and recommended beginning discussion with First Bus earlier next year.
During administration reports, Dr. Lenihan discussed the process of the superintendent's appraisal and talked about the need to get property and casualty insurance quotes for the coming contract period.
Board members approved second reading of a policy involving promotion and retention. It sets forth information on early graduation and the fact that the school's administration will provide reports to the board.
Policy 5006 received first reading approval. It sets forth the number of students that are able to be option-enrolled into the district . The number can be adjusted later in the school year if the district finds the number of students in each grade has changed.
A copier/printer contract quote from Eakes Office Solutions was approved. The district has been happy with the service provided by the company in the past and discussed what the contract entails.
During the portion of the board meeting that dealt with personnel and again during the Special Education administrator's report, the topic of keeping para professionals was discussed. The district is having a difficult time retaining these employees as they are part-time and not eligible for insurance benefits.
The topic will be re-visited in the near future.
Administrators all reported a high percentage of parents attending the recent Parent-Teacher Conferences and listed upcoming activities for the students.
Foundation Director Rusty Parker reported on recent fund-raising events, including the Murray Fishing Tournament and the Taste of Victory Tailgate. He also said an alumni mailing will be going out in the near future.
The Wayne Community Schools' Board of Education will next meet in regular session on Monday, Nov. 13 at 5 p.m. in the library at the junior-senior high school.
