Two new board members and one returning member were sworn in at the California R-I School Board at its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, April 16.
There were five school board candidates vying for the three seats up for election, with one incumbent and four new candidates running. Incumbent board member Craig Ash returns to the board for another three year term. Philip Burger and Joe Kirby are the two new board members sworn in.
The new board reorganized with the election of officers. Officers for this term are Jay VanDieren - president, Craig Ash - vice president, Kyle Wirts - treasurer and Susie Oliver - secretary. VanDieren will serve as the Missouri School Board Association representative, with Rhonda Meyer as alternate. Representatives were selected for several other school organizations and committees.
Since the voters approved the proposed bond issue by a margin of 75 percent for and 25 percent against, the board began the task of approving the work to be completed with funds available from sale of the bonds.
First up, was approval of the infrastructure technology bid of Midwest Computech, the current technology provider. The bid from the company came under the amount the district head earmarked, even with an additional estimated $30,000 of technology upgrades.
The board approved the work to be done by CTS Group, St. Louis, although the contract wording has yet to be finalized. Work to be done includes some older windows to be replaced with energy efficient windows, retrofit the lighting in certain areas, replace an older boiler in the middle school, and improvements in the heating and air conditioning overall. Building control systems are to be installed with the goal of enabling temperatures in individual rooms to be adjusted from off-site via current internet technology methods. Although it is thought that funds should be available May 1, there is little time do do anything before summer.
A Letter of Intent was approved to be sent to GBH Builders, Jefferson City, for the improvements to be funded by the issue of the bonds. These funds are expected to be available by June 1.
It was reported there are 91 kindergartners expected for the fall, with five classes planned for these students.
The board was reminded of and invited to an employee appreciation dinner on Thursday, April 17, at the high school commons. Outgoing board president Stephen Burger was presented with a plaque in appreciation of his six years service to the board, the school and the community.
Before the new board was installed and reorganized, a high school diploma was presented to Alex Bieri, who qualified by completing the Mo-Options program.
The next regular monthly meeting will be May 21.