The Perry School Board approved several items in their 45-minute meeting Monday, including giving the go-ahead for a conversion to LED lighting at the high school.
Sitler Supplies was awarded the contract for the LED project. A rebate on the project’s $86,290 will reduce the total to $67,565 because the board closed with Sitler before the company’s deadline. Sitler aims to install the new lights over the winter holiday break, using the spring break to complete the job, if needed.
The school board’s engineering consultant, Mike Murphy of Larson Engineering, told the board that finalizing was underway of bidding documents for phase one of the Dewey Field renovation and improvements project. Murphy said he expected to open bids Feb. 6, so they should come before the board at their Feb. 12 meeting.
Board President Kyle Baxter and Director Linda Andorf reported on their experiences at the Iowa Association of School Boards annual conference. Both said they had learned many things at the event.
“I thought there were several strong points made,” Andorf said. “How to combat issues that come up if your school has a certain ‘label’ attached to it was discussed, and the advantages of even some things like having a mascot at games was mentioned as adding to a positive impression. I also liked the ideas of engaging our legislators as often as possible, especially having them attend different things we do.”
Monday’s agenda included a report from science teachers who had attended a regional conference, but the item was tabled when none were able to attend the monthly meeting.
Counselor Tami Valline approached the board to request a Modified Allowable Growth of $569,649 for Dropout Prevents and At-Risk programs.
Valline said the high school’s dropout rate fell by more than 50 percent over the past five years, from 2.9 percent in 2012 to only 1.19 in 2016, well below the statewide average.
She noted the request was $8,300 less than the maximum allowed. Staff salaries account for the majority of the programs’ costs, with I-JAG using $40,000 and Edgenuity programs $30,000, with some dollars going toward travel reimbursements, conferences and consortium fees.
The board approved Valine’s request after some discussion.
The board also approved 11 early-graduation requests and gave permission for additional fundraisers by the Middle School TSA program and the PHS volleyball team.
Transportation Director Troy Griffith informed the board of a potential savings of $8,000 to $10,000 on a new bus purchase if a minor change (relating to the transmission) were made to the bid specifications. The board approved the change, noting that $106,000 was already allocated for purchasing a new bus and finding it hard to object to a potential savings of $10,000.
A series of revisions to board policies was also approved, as were several personnel matters.
Directors Kenia Alarcon and Casey Baldwin were absent from the meeting.
The Perry School Board meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Brady Library at Perry High School. The public is welcome to attend.
