Construction on schedule at Jefferson
BARB TERRY/DAILY FORUM
Hard at work Despite the dense fog, crews remain diligent in their task of constructing the new gymnasium at the Jefferson C-123 School. Superintendent Tim Jermain said the crews are still on track for their May 30 completion date.
Construction on the Jefferson C-123 School gymnasium is going along rather smoothly, despite the cooler weather in the area recently.
During Wednesday night’s meeting of the Jefferson Board of Education, Superintendent Tim Jermain reported that crews still expected to be finished by the deadline.
“In my last meeting with the architect and contractors, we’re still on pace for their May 30 goal,” Jermain said. “We’re done with the building’s footing, so we’re ready to start putting up the building when it gets here.
“We’re waiting for the materials to actually put it up, and there will be a span of about three weeks where crews aren’t going to be doing much leading up to when everything gets here around the end of February. But we’ll be ready to put it up when everything arrives.”
Jermain also reported on the board’s decision last month to change the high school’s water distributor to rural water controlled by Nodaway County, a change order which cost $1,700. The board also discussed ideas on what the floor paint would look like and the color of the bleachers in the new gymnasium.
During the meeting, the board also voted to apply for a vocational enhancement grant.
Jefferson last applied for the grant three years ago and were successful in their request. This year, Jermain said the board would be asking for a grant total of $62,400.
“The grant is given on a basis of 75 percent state funding and 25 percent matching funding from the district,” Jermain said. “If we are approved, we will be tasked with putting up $15,600 to supplement the state’s provision of $46,800.
“We’re asking for the grant through our vocational agriculture business program to update the technology in our agriculture and business classrooms. We’re looking to get 15 new laptops, a three-dimensional printer, and redoing the floor in the ag room, and 16 new desktop computers and new chairs for the business room. We’re also looking to replace the Smart TVs in both rooms.”
Schools can apply three years after they have received grant funding.
Other items of note from the Jefferson C-123 Board of Education:
– Spec Shoppe manager Jeff Farnan, Albany Hospital dietitian Laura Galbraith, and United Electric worker Travis Angle have all applied to run for re-election and, barring any surprises, will run unopposed and earn back their seats on the Board of Education. The county deadline for all filing is Tuesday, Jan. 24. Farnan and Galbraith will be seeking their fourth terms while Angle will be running for the second time.
– Following Superintendent Tim Jermain’s annual evaluation, the board decided to extend his contract through the 2018-2019 school year.
– The board approved the purchase of a new floor scrubber worth $7,894. The district has been using the same floor scrubber for the past 18 years.
The next meeting of the Jefferson C-123 Board of Education is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m.