R-II’s Albrecht reviews construction projects
In the News
Over recent weeks Maryville R-II School District officials have toured the Lee and Nina Schneider Center for the Performing Arts, the new FEMA gymnasium and storm shelter, and construction at Eugene Field Elementary School.
Superintendent Becky Albrecht went over some of those projects during Wednesday’s R-II School Board meeting. She addressed issues with the architect and general contractors, including payments required to close contracts.
The FEMA structure/auxiliary gymnasium tour on Wednesday revealed no major issues, just a few small fixes here and there. Albrecht noted that the scoreboards, which have been ordered, haven’t arrived yet. Other than that, the gymnasium should be open for student use next month.
Officials from FEMA will come in and inspect the building later before releasing grant funds to the school district.
The 12-month inspection and final walkthrough at Eugene Field brought up concerns with regard to a freezer/walk-in cooler having to do with condensation. The school is still holding $10,000 in payments on that project.
At the performing arts building remaining issues include interior signage, a pressurization problem that causes ceiling tiles to shift when a door is opened, and exterior grading.
In other news, the school district approved a bid from Geist Heating & Air Conditioning for the purchase of two HVAC units for Eugene Field Elementary that will cost the district $32,758 after installation by R-II personnel.
The low bid was for $42,398 not counting deductions for self-installation. St. Joe Plumbing & Heating also submitted a bid for $46,995.
The units are related to the conversion of the school’s old cafeteria into a library.
Two positions were approved by the board on Albrecht’s recommendation, including a piano accompanist currently working as an independent contractor who will now be a part-time employee. The second personnel change relates to supplemental extra duties at Maryville Middle School for volleyball.
In the past, the structure had been a head coach, a lead assistant and two additional assistants.
Under the revision, there will be a separate head coach and assistant for both the seventh and eighth grade.
“How we structure that out and pay for it isn’t really reflective of what we are doing,” Albrecht said. “Football would be a good comparison, they are paid as a head coach and assistant. In talking with Mr. (Matt) Beu (athletic director) and Mr. (Kevin) Pitts (Middle School principal) we don’t really see a reason for the girls sport to be different than the boys sport when the structure is actually the same.”
In other business:
· Albrecht noted that “trauma bag” first aid kits provided through the Gladys Rickard Charitable Trust and Maryville Public Safety have been placed in each classroom and office throughout district buildings. The plan now is to place the bags in a consistent location in each room.
· Assistant Superintendent Steve Klotz reported that the school paid out less than $10,000 in worker’s compensation claims in 2016, a figure he described as “fabulous.”
· The board approved a request for proposals for a disctrictwide cloud-based voice-over-IP phone/intercom system.
· Athletic Director Matt Beu said a survey by the Missouri High School Activities Association is going out to schools concerning a proposed one-class girls wrestling division.
· The district is looking at purchasing a lot for a new house to be constructed by building trades students at Northwest Technical School.
· The date of the next School Board meeting was pushed up a day to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.
