North Nodaway sets priority for bond funds
HOPKINS, Mo. — Superintendent James Simmelink told North Nodaway R-VI School Board members Wednesday in Hopkins, Missouri, there is about $88,800 in bond funds available for new projects.
The district passed the $675,000 bond last year. After $25,000 was used pay for the cost of putting the bond together, that left the district with $650,000.
Other building projects completed or still in progress include: purchase of a bus, fire safety equipment installation, work on the restrooms, parking lot resurfacing, HVAC work, refinishing the gymnasium floor, cement work for a kitchen entrance in the back and the working with Northwest Audio Visual for the Hopkins intercom system.
“Thus far we’ve spent $313,000,” he said.
He also estimated there is another $60,000 worth of work to be completed on the HVAC system. The district has committed to completion of that project as well as the purchase of two buses, one in the spring and one the following.
“They’ll be about $160/$180,000 each,” Simmelink said. “We also committed to some technology and the technology cost is about $18,000.” He said the district applied for e-rate federal funding and received it. The federal funds paid for about 70 percent of the project, making what he estimated the district’s part about $5,000.
“We can look for alternate projects,” he said. “We have three years to spend that bond money, so it doesn’t have to be done this school year. We need to take a look at what are some of the needs that we have that fit into that category of what we put into our bond language and would be an upgrade.”
Simmelink mentioned a specific Kindergarten classroom window that is drafty and the wind blows curtains when the window is closed.
“Is there something you’d like me to look at right away,” he asked? “Do you want me to put together a plan or wish list or anything?”
The board then discussed at length, “The night the lights went out, not in Georgia, but at the ballpark,” Simmelink said.
Friday night football on Sept. 29 was dark for the North-West Nodaway team and fans. The lights at the ballpark turned off six times causing delays, each lasting 10 to 15 minutes. The game ended at half time, though it was a full three-hour game.
The district is only one of three entities that take care of the ballpark.
Simmelink mentioned LED lights being a possibility moving forward. He discussed the possibility with an electrician at the game while the lights were off.
“Come springtime and it comes time for baseball you don’t want to start a season just flipping a coin whether your lights are going to work or not,” said Board President Jerime Bix. “I know people were getting pretty frustrated down there they were actually leaving.”
Simmelink said it wasn’t a very good reflection on the school and he doesn’t think the lights have been turned on since that night.
“Is that something you’d like to pursue,” he asked? “Do you want to put more than a third in?”
Board Member Samantha Brown said, “I think we want to look at it soon.”
Board members mentioned it could be in the ground or in the power box which has experienced problems before.
“(It) tends to happen after a rain,” Board Member Tony O’Riley said.
Simmelink said the scoreboard stayed on and was talked about that night, but it is on a different circuit than the lights.
They agreed the problem needs to be found before discussing possible light replacement.
The board then asked Simmelink find someone to look at the system. Simmelink said he will have an electrician take a look at it.
With that settled, the board agreed its No. 1 priority for spending some of the bond funds would be to fix the windows in that Kindergarten classroom.
Simmelink said he would call Maryville Glass for estimates.
