South Nodaway bids out field construction
TOM PINNEY/DAILY FORUM
Pictured are the preliminary plans for the new Guilford baseball field. The South Nodaway Board of Education accepted a bid from Gametime Athletics to landscape the field.
BARNARD — Construction at the new South Nodaway baseball complex in Guilford is underway, and one of the biggest parts of the project has just been bid out.
At Wednesday’s meeting of the South Nodaway R-IV Board of Education, the board discussed bids submitted by four different companies to construct the field.
After some discussion, the board ultimately decided to accept the bid from Gametime Athletics. The main reason, according to board president Chris LaMaster, was experience.
“They have done the type of work we need before, and we’ve seen the fields they’ve worked on,” LaMaster said. “They’re great fields. Plus, they are willing to do it within our price range.”
The bid was accepted at a price of $65,350, and the work will begin soon. The project has a 90-day completion date. The location of the company – Weston, Missouri – was also a factor that went into the board’s decision.
During the meeting, principal Darbi Bauman announced that a motivational speaker will be paying a visit to Barnard.
Jeff Yalden, who specializes in motivation for middle and high school students as well as suicide prevention and community crisis teen suicide intervention, will be coming to the district March 8. Bauman said he would be present for the entire day, starting with workshops for teachers and students throughout the morning.
In the afternoon, Yelden will hold an assembly for students in grades 5-12, and after school he will stick around to work with more students and their families, if necessary. The day will end with a community pep rally in the evening.
Bauman was grateful for the effort of parents in the community for bringing Yelden to the district, specifically to Nick Wray and Josh Moultray for their efforts to make the seminars available.
Also discussed at Wednesday’s meeting:
– Bauman mentioned in her report that several school clubs had been actively successful in competition as the school year goes on. FFA students Mallory McConkey, Meaghan McConkey, and Tristan Freemyer each won area proficiency awards and will be headed to the state convention, and several Future Business Leaders of America students were able to place at the District 1 FBLA Leadership Conference. The FFA Community Appreciation Breakfast is this Sunday, Feb. 18 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the American Legion Hall in Barnard.
– Superintendent Johnnie Silkett notified the board that the grant writing team was putting together applications to pay for the scoreboard at the Guilford field. He also announced that the school is working on fundraisers for the bleachers.
– The board approved a fund transfer of $162,321 to the district’s construction fund from the general fund. The money comes from the district’s general fund, which was boosted significantly by Railroad and Utility funds this year.
The next meeting of the South Nodaway R-IV Board of Education is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15 at 7 p.m.