HUMBOLDT — Kay Lewis, Humboldt superintendent of schools, said electrical work and heating, ventilation and air conditioning had been installed at the storm shelter under construction at the new sports complex on Georgia Road.
Within two weeks, insulation and Sheetrock will be hung as well, along with the ceiling being suspended.
According to Lewis, the district was also awarded a $27,788 USDA grant to go toward the purchase of smart boards and other technology. Another USDA grant to support distance-learning is in the works as well, Lewis said.
One piece of new business was to approve a Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR) for District 258’s school building renovation bond project.
Four companies were interviewed, and the competition was tight, according to Lewis.
However, after application of a rubric by the board, Coonrod & Associates Construction of Wichita ultimately prevailed. Coonrod is also the general contractor for the new schools in Iola.
Lewis mentioned the construction group’s experience with school districts, and pointed out they had never faced past litigation.
Coonrod also has a safety rating of (.91), which is considered high.
Another item of note came during the recreation report by Nathan Ellison, who said that a $25,000 project had been approved at the Manion, Sweatt and Memorial ballfields.
The targets for improvement include seating areas, walkways and the parking lot — including 90 feet of parking along the north field and some gravel parking to the west of the middle field.
The board approved the resignation of Darcie Croisant in her current capacity as middle school girls track coach, so that she could move into a new position.
The board also accepted the resignation of 4th grade elementary teacher and middle school assistant girls volleyball coach, Alexx Burnside.
The meeting concluded with some additional staff decisions.
Board hired Darcie Croisant as the new middle school career counselor, Jalynn Guiot as the middle school English teacher, and Gretchen Murrow as an elementary teacher for the 2020-2021 school year.
