Board approves next FSHS project

The USD 234 Board of Education approved the next piece of the district's school bond puzzle Monday night.

Representatives of Nabholz Construction Services of Olathe, the construction manager for the bond projects, appeared before the board to provide updates on current and upcoming summer work at the high school and the district football stadium, Frary Field, which includes asbestos removal and stadium improvements that started last week.

"We had a really good dialog (with Nabholz) today," Beckham said.

The board approved work related to the next project at the high school, which will involve demolition of the school's old three-story Juco wing, as well as reconfiguration and remodeling of three classrooms in a separate section of the high school as a result of teachers who will be displaced after the building is torn down. A new building to take its place will be designed this summer with construction expected to begin this fall.

The project includes a scope of work as outlined in design drawings and specifications by architects and the engineering firm. The project is scheduled to begin as soon as mid-June and be substantially complete by mid-August, according to Nabholz documents.

The guaranteed maximum price for the project is $724,132, according to Nabholz estimates.

"And that will be the process for all of these projects," Nabholz Senior Project Manager Jason Fruit said. "To establish the guaranteed maximum price for that project" to stay on budget.

Fruit said any cost savings on the projects will "roll into the next project." He said Nabholz recently discovered there is no need for a building permit for the Juco wing demolition and classroom remodel, resulting in a savings of about $4,000.

Removal of all usable furniture, chemistry and foods lab equipment, multimedia projectors and other tech equipment, as well as a complete emptying of the Juco wing took place last month. The remodel of three classrooms at the high school is scheduled to start in early July.

USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham thanked district maintenance and summer crews, as well as about 65 members of the high school football team who assisted with removal of items.

"They have been amazing," he said.

Brian Caskey, site superintendent, also spoke to the board about the stadium improvements. Caskey said his job entails oversight of construction on all bond projects.

"We're on a tight, 10-week schedule on the stadium," he said. "I think it will be a fantastic stadium."

According to a Nabholz schedule, excavation and concrete work is scheduled to continue through July 3; soil stabilization and asphalt work are scheduled to take place July 6-10; work on field accessories is slated to take place July 13-17 and the new turf is scheduled to be installed July 13 through Aug. 10.

Caskey said crews have already begun digging and moving dirt and informed the board that buckets of dirt will be available to the public if they are interested in a keepsake from the field. He also said Nabholz is "trying to hire as many local subcontractors as possible" for the bond projects.

Work scheduled to be complete by the board's next regular meeting in July includes "importing dirt and clay material" as well as work on underground conduits and drainage systems, Caskey said.

"This should address the previous problems on the turf," he said.

Beckham said the district is considering harvesting bricks from the old Juco wing and possibly selling them or giving them away in the future.

In other business, the board:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included bills and claims, the $1.2 million payroll for May, a district financial report, a bond proceeds reconciliation document and a report on year-end district gifts.

* Heard reports on school site councils from all four building principals; Winfield Scott Principal Marianna Daugherty, Eugene Ware Principal Dave Elliott, Fort Scott Middle School Principal Jim Howard and Fort Scott High School Principal Shawn Thomas. Principals discussed topics from the 2014-15 school year, including testing, initiatives, school improvement, and discussions with their schools about the school bond projects, among others.

Beckham thanked building principals for their work and said he recently asked principals to provide him with end-of-year reports, or "snapshots" of their respective schools.

"Our kids are progressing academically," he said.

* Approved payment of invoices for Hollis and Miller Architects and MKEC Engineering for their work related to the school bond projects.

* Heard a report on a last day enrollment count for the district. District figures show a total head count of 1,896 students as of May 21, the last day of school for the 2014-15 school year, compared to 1,933 students at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Total FTE enrollment at the end of the 2014-15 school year was 1,816 compared to 1,831 FTE for the 2013-14 school year.

* Approved a list of Fort Scott High School fundraising project applications for the 2015-16 school year.

* Approved a list of extended trip applications for Fort Scott High School for the 2015-16 school year.

* Approved site council members at all district schools for the 2015-16 school year.

* Approved donation of various old district documents to the Old Fort Genealogical Society. Officials said the documents are from the 1800s before the district officially became a unified school district.

* Approved the future sale of various items including old goal posts from the football stadium, limestone and bricks from the old Juco wing of the high school, school lockers, and old magazines located in the basement of the high school. Deputy Clerk and Secretary Connie Billionis said the board must first approve the sale of these items.

* Approved the following employment matters:

Retirement: Donna Bruner, middle school teacher aide, effective July 1.

Transfer: Kirstie Cox, Eugene Ware fifth-grade teacher to Winfield Scott second-grade teacher for the 2015-16 school year.

Employments for the 2015-16 school year: Tim Button as bus driver, Jake Kramer as middle school custodian, central office classified employees, food service classified employees, transportation classified employees, classified employees at all district schools, supplemental employees at all district schools, and Kayla Pulliam as a Eugene Ware fifth-grade teacher.