H-M-S updates bus fleet, technology
Bus, television and sign purchases are finalized
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NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
Two of H-M-S's buses will be getting phased out for newer replacements soon.
Over $250,000 in transportation and technology upgrades that the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board tentatively approved last month were finalized on Monday.
The district is purchasing two off-lease 84-passenger buses for a total of $170,000. According to information presented in September by Superintendent Patrick Carlin, the 2018 Blue Bird models have approximately 36,000 and 41,000 miles. They will update the district's transportation fleet which has six buses with over 150,000 miles. Carlin said a new 84-passenger bus would cost approximately $125,000.
Transportation director Kevin Soden suggested that 03 (247,000 miles) and 06 (197,000) be retired after the replacements are delivered.
Technology purchases totaling $70,742 were approved. Included in the package are large screen televisions for high school classrooms and additional monitoring for the security system.
"We're pretty happy with that, because we had a $100,000 ballpark for that," Carlin said.
The electronic sign south of the high school will be updated at a cost of $17,208. The proposal from Roling Signs in Sioux Rapids includes new lettering to identify both schools; upgrading lights to LEDs; painting; and replacing the message center.
Harvey Sign Service, of Worthington, Minn., submitted a bid of $19,191 for a Daktronics sign package.
• Middle school construction progresses
The exterior of the new middle school in Sanborn is taking shape. According to Mark Pfister, of Boyd Jones Construction, the new classroom area is framed, sheeted and weatherproofed. The first interior slab pour was completed last week and the second will be done next week after temporary heating is installed.
Pfister said precast walls for the gym are up and roof decking is being installed. Roofing on both sections should be completed in the near future.
Closeouts of the elementary and high school projects are being finalized. Pfister was asked about problems with doors in the elementary school not fitting properly. He said a mechanical engineer recommended waiting until the building is fully balanced before adjusting the doors.
"It has been frustrating," Pfister said. "I know you've been working with that."
During a review of change orders for the facilities project, Pfister said H-M-S will receive a credit of $15,173 from the roofing contractor for damages resulting from leaks in the high school.
Added underground work, removal of existing buildings and soil stabilization at the middle school site cost $53,359. That amount was higher than anticipated during the bidding process. According to discussion, $23,410 of that will be credited back due to a reduction in subbase material required for the gym addition. The remainder will be subtracted from the change allowance.
• Preschool budgets, lease
NICK PEDLEY/SENTINEL-NEWS
An excavator completes some dirt work at H-M-S Middle School. Workers have been busy recently closing off additions to the building in prepartion for winter.
Budgets for the district's community preschool partners are based on state aid per pupil of $6,917, which is paid at a rate of the number of children enrolled divided by two. Five percent of the total amount is retained by H-M-S for administrative costs.
The FY21 allocation for Learning Tree Preschool in Sanborn (11 students) is $36,141 and for Head Start (13 students) is $42,712.
The annual rental agreement with C & B Operations, LLC, of Spencer, for a utility tractor was renewed. H-M-S will lease a John Deere 3039R tractor and loader for $1,000.
In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Deb Bleeker as elementary secretary, effective at mid-year; named Board Member Scott Vollink as delegate to the Iowa Association of School Boards convention, which is a virtual event this year; and approved policy 1000 series to keep those policies current until further updates are made.
