By ALICIA FEYERHERM
Tiger Media Network
The USD 489 Board of Education approved three action items during Monday’s meeting.
The first was approval of a $181,236.17 furniture purchase for Hays Middle School. This includes:
- New cafeteria tables
- Classroom tables
- Some storage cabinets
“All of these items are things that are needed,” Superintendent Ron Wilson said.
The district has purchased furniture from Circadia in the past, using them for both the high school and Roosevelt Elementary.
Board member Derek Yarmer was concerned that the funding was coming out of capital outlay rather than the bond budget. Wilson said these improvements have been in the five-year plan for three years.
Yarmer also noted he would have liked to have larger purchases brought up in the meeting prior to being voted on.
“This would be an example of giving us the numbers and voting on it the same night, which I’m against,” Yarmer said.
Wilson reiterated that this furniture is needed in January.
“Price isn’t going to change,” Wilson said. “We need the tables. We need the cafeteria tables. We need the classroom tables. Nothing’s going to change. More time doesn’t really change anything.”
Board member Allen Park asked why new cafeteria tables were necessary.
“They (the current tables) are not in great shape,” Hays Middle School principal Tom Albers said. “A lot of them are jagged, so we have to sand the edges. We’ve had to cut several of the pieces because they won’t close anymore. You can’t find replacement parts for them.”
The motion to approve the purchase of furniture passed 4-2, with Yarmer and Park voting against.
The next item discussed was the removal of playground equipment at Lincoln Elementary.
Aspire 2 Play has quoted $32,832 to remove and store the equipment at Lincoln Elementary. The property was sold earlier this year and the developer wants to begin work.
Once the playground is complete at Felten Elementary (the current Hays Middle School), the equipment will be reassembled on-site, along with the equipment from Wilson Elementary, which will become administrative offices.
Yarmer said he drove by Lincoln Elementary and there is not a lot of playground equipment.
“This looks like a pretty small job to be bringing people from Kansas City,” Yarmer said.
Wilson said the project was open to local companies as well, but they did not have time for the project.
“There’s a lot of pieces and then reconstructing it,” Wilson said. “People who understand playground equipment and how it goes together is a big part of it.”
Park questioned the length of storage time listed in the contract.
“I guess I’m feeling a little frustrated why we continually are questioning what’s pretty simple,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to have a playground in August. We can get this done. We don’t have the staffing to do it. We need to get it off of Lincoln by November 15. It’s pretty simple.”
Park asked why this was not started in May when Lincoln was closed.
“I just again think that we’re being a little frivolous with our money and we should be more conscientious and try to come up with other options and I’d like to have more options brought to the board instead of just one,” Park said.
Yarmer agreed.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Chris Hipp said they sat down with two separate contractors, but they did not have time for the project.
The motion passed 4-2 with Yarmer and Park voting against.
Finally, the board reviewed desktop replacement for district staff.
Technology Director Scott Summers said this includes Nutrition Services, Libraries, Building Secretaries and those in the Rockwell Administration building.
“We looked at what machines we have out there, what’s coming up on warranty right now,” Summers said.
The $37,684.87 covers the cost of 37 new desktops.
Board member Jayme Goetz asked why this was not taken to the technology committee. Summers said it was a very busy summer and that they aren’t changing the type of devices.
“It’s just replacing what’s there,” Summer said.
Goetz said she understood how busy things have been, but in the future, it would be helpful to consult with the technology committee.
“We should probably make sure we’re doing that due diligence, so that if staff has concerns about what we’re choosing or what they’re dealing with, they have a route to go through,” Goetz said.
Motion passed 6-0.
The next Board of Education meeting will be on November 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockwell Administration Building.