MP School Board takes care of summertime business

John Henriksen?s first school board meeting as superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Community School District didn?t last long, as the board flew through the agenda.

The bulk of Monday evening?s meeting was receiving updates. First off the bat was an update on the currently vacant principal position at Harlan and Salem. Henriksen said the preference was to find a one-year solution so that the district could conduct a thorough search over the course of the year. With that in mind, the district could either have the two remaining elementary principals split duties between the four elementary schools or find an interim principal.

Henriksen said he had spoken with several retired principals about coming back for a year, however, despite interest, none were able to. Katie Gavin, director of instruction, said she has been looking at teachers with principal certifications to hold down the Harlan/Salem position for a year. Henriksen said the board would receive a recommendation at its next meeting on Monday, Aug. 8.

Mark Porth, building and grounds director, gave a brief update on the district?s summer projects. ?During the summertime we?re taking the buildings apart and putting them back together. That involves stripping floors, cleaning furniture, working on lights and whatever changes the principals might have,? he said.

When asked how much the summer updates and projects were costing the district, Porth was hesitant to give a figure, but ballparked it at about $15,000.

Henriksen said he and Porth have talked about getting back to a five-year plan for the buildings. ?Throughout the year we would develop that (plan) and get cost estimates. In the spring, as a work session, we would do a walkthrough of the buildings, sit down with the cost estimates and take a look at our revenues and see what we?re comfortable trying to tackle,? said Henriksen.

Porth added any updates this summer were run past former Interim Superintendent John Roederer.

As for the Mapleleaf lighting project, Porth said boring had already been done and the district is just waiting on Musco Lighting to come tear out the old lights and place the new ones. Porth said that would be done by the end of the month.

The school board also heard an update from Mike Vens on the district?s property casualty insurance renewal, which was higher due to workers compensation claims. However, Vens said those claims ?fall off? after three years and at that point the district should see some lower premiums. ?Just for the public?s information, our premium is $379,000 and of that, $267,000 is workers comp,? said Board President David McCoid.

In other business, the board authorized Ed Chabal, director of business and finance, to open a second checking account at Pilot Grove Savings Bank. The second account came as a recommendation from state auditors.

The district also approved a bid from Wesley Barton Construction Inc., of Mt. Pleasant, to pave an extension of the driveway at the High School. Porth said the area that is going to be paved is where school buses load and unload students and turn around. ?This is pothole prevention,? he said.

Barton?s bid was for $39,756.

The next meeting of the Mt. Pleasant School Board will be Monday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m.