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School Board
Accepts Bid for GRTS Roof The Chillicothe R-2 board approved a $305,900 bid for a new roof at Grand River Technical School Tuesday night and work should begin either in late May or early June, according to Dave May, assistant superintendent. Dean Payton Contracting Company Inc., of Chillicothe, submitted the winning bid for installing a vacuum-sealed rubber roof which met with unanimous board approval during the regular February meeting at district headquarters. The only other bid submitted for the project was from Rudy Yutzy and Sons, LLC of Brookfield, Mo., which offered a bid of $274,500 for a foam type roof. District officials recommended the higher bid because they were more comfortable with the product and its durability. According to Roger Wolf, co-director of GRTS, there were some questions concerning the thickness of the foam roof's sealer and how it would perform on a roof the size of GRTS. Wolf also noted that the flat, vacuum-sealed roof will withstand up to a 90 mph wind lift and comes with a 15-year warranty. The roof currently over GRTS is about 25 years old and routinely leaks when it rains, causing damage to equipment and unsafe conditions in the shops. Also during the meeting, board members unanimously approved committing $20,000 toward a city project to build two additional tennis courts in Danner Park. Superintendent Dale Wallace recommended the commitment and noted that the district is working on a $20,000 grant from the American Tennis Association to pay for the project "which we feel very good about getting," he said. The city, Wallace says, is attempting to acquire funding and presently, there is $13,000 pledged from foundations, $10,000 pledged from an individual. The balance of the $100,000 project would come from the city. Wallace noted that the district, which boasts strong girls and boys tennis teams, have missed out on hosting tournaments because there is currently not enough tennis courts available. Barb Thurmon, CHS boys swimming coach, also spoke to the board, asking for the district's financial support in continuing the boys swimming team next season. For the past three years, the program has been financed through mostly private funds. Next year, Thurmon said, the private funds will not be available, leaving the swimming program's future in doubt. In submitting her proposal to continue a boys swim team, Thurmon said the total costs to the district would total $6,140. Included in the costs are:
Thurmon noted that the past season, 12 boys were on the swimming team. "If we have a team next year, I'm expecting at least that many again," Thurmon said. She added that swimming is a lifetime sport, is relatively inexpensive and offers students a means to swim competitively. "Also, any swimmer can go to state providing they have a qualifying time, which is a unique goal they can work for," she said. She also noted that the local YMCA does not charge rental fees for use of their facilities for practice Board members also examined the first draft of the 2008-09 budget Tuesday night which calls for a balance of $869,434.57 in all funds as of June 30, 2009. |
