R-6 continues building renovations

Sikeston School Board

SIKESTON -- Sikeston R-6 Board of Education members awarded a Sikeston architectural firm the bid to provide some assistance in the renovation of "C" building on the high school campus during Tuesday's regular meeting at the district's new Math and Science Center.

Robert Stearnes and Associates Inc. Architects will provide professional architectural/engineering services for additions and alterations to "C" building.

In addition to the district's architectural services, the firm provided in its proposal an hourly rate for other engineering assistance that might be needed, which includes civil, structural, HVAC systems, etc., Superintendent Steve Borgsmiller told the board members before they awarded the bid.

"I would ask the board to approve the proposal as submitted by Robert Stearnes and Associates, and this will be on an hourly basis whether it be via Dale (Rogers, president of the firm) or via other groups that will be assisting in the evaluation of the structure.

Borgsmiller continued: "All billing will be done through Stearnes and Associates, and we'll be submitting a payment to you from Stearnes and Associates for whatever assistance is necessary."

Board member Julie Dolan asked if there was a way to limit the amount spent during the evaluation.

Borgsmiller said there was.

"Dale is very conservative, and I feel very comfortable that in the evaluation of this he is not going to let us go overboard," Borgsmiller said. Services by Stearnes and Associates would start soon; however, the scope of the work has not been defined.

Several design alternatives will be researched and presented to the Board for consideration, including constructibility, phasing of construction, upgrade for the life-cycle costing and construction cost, according to Stearnes and Associates' proposal.

"We'll have to ask some questions...," board president Paul Boyd commented.

Other bids awarded Tuesday included the following for the Math and Science Center: $3,673.95 to CDW-G of Vernon Hills, Ill.,to purchase 21 flat-screen computer monitors; $3,300 to Mid-America Sod Farm of Cape Girardeau for the purchase and delivery of sod; and $5,215 to Designs and Blinds of Sikeston for the purchase and installation of roller shade window coverings.

Borgsmiller said the sod will surround the Math and Science Center building and will be put down by the landscaping class. He said the board will likely be asked to approve the purchase for those plants during the November meeting.

Borgsmiller also told the board the shades are for classrooms only at the Center, and recommendations for window coverings in the administrative suite will probably be made in November.

Board member Rick Adams asked if the shades had a warranty. Borgsmiller said he couldn't answer specifically but thought it was a one-year warranty. Libby Caskey, library media specialist, briefed the board on the happenings with the district's libraries over the past year.

Besides the high school library moving to a larger location on the high school campus, the biggest issue is that elementary libraries need to be looked at in terms of renovation and size, Caskey said.

When a board member asked which elementary library was in the worst shape, Caskey said it depends. Morehouse Elementary is the oldest facility but it's also the largest, she said.

"I hesitate to elevate one over the other," Caskey said. "... When that (issue) can become a priority, we certainly support that."

Nikki Vaught, nurse coordinator; Ron Hampton, director of transportation; and Lynn Crader, principal at Alternative Education Center, also provided annual reports to the board.

Vaught said nurses saw about 1,900 less students last school year than the previous one. Last year she and other school nurses provided the staff with flu shots and are working to provide that again this year. Most of the district's staff have received first aid training, she said.

Hampton said the district has 29 buses with 20 running daily on routes.

The biggest change for the Alternative Education Center was moving from the facility on Moore Street to the building that housed the Fifth Grade Center on Murray Lane, Crader said. Students and faculty are very pleased with the different facility, he said.

Districtwide student enrollment is 3,649 -- down about 60 students compared to the same time last year.

Borgsmiller said he hasn't had a chance to really evaluate this, but enrollment over the last few years has been between 3,600 and 3,800 students.

Borgsmiller then said the district had three new students and two transfers Tuesday.

"They're still coming in, and we still have them leaving," Borgsmiller said. "It's pretty well an exchange."