The vision of an Early Childhood Center connected to the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center is one step closer to reality for the district following the release of drawings for bid Aug. 12.
The Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education was presented with the design concept from Mike Pollard of Dille & Traxel Architecture during their monthly meeting Thursday evening.
Currently, the Early Childhood Program is located inside the Mark Twain School at 1235 North Main Street.
"Over the last four months we have taken the design concept that we have shown and developed the drawings to actually build this building," Pollard said. "This includes everything we believe the program required, wanted and needed to efficiently run an Early Childhood Center."
Drawings were released for bid Aug. 12 and due by Sept. 13 to meet deadlines to move forward, if the board chooses, to ensure moving into the building for the 2019-20 school year, Pollard said. Seven general contractors have received the drawings.
"I don't know what the bids are going to come in at, but based on the preliminary development cost in February, I still feel comfortable with the number," Pollard said.
Board members were presented with a development cost of $7,359,088 during their February meeting. Pollard told the board during that time soft costs may vary, but the proposed cost should cover the entire project, including civil engineering fees, playground equipment and site development based on the current market.
The proposed building is over 34,000 square feet and includes six classrooms for 3-year-olds as well as six classrooms for 4-year-old students, a testing office, two speech rooms, a Parents As Teachers room, sensory room, library, administrative offices, a multipurpose room, 175-space parking lot and other rooms to efficiently run an Early Childhood Center.
While not a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) shelter, Pollard said the design of the multipurpose room closely mimics the FEMA standards and will hold 464 people.
The room also doubles as an eating space where tables fold-up when not in use.
The focal point is the library, Pollard added, with reading nooks for children to tuck away with a book.
The outside design of the building closely mimics the Kindergarten Center, Pollard said, since the buildings will be connected by a link.
To make the Early Childhood Center building a statement, Pollard said the concept of townships was created to make it easier for children to navigate through the school.
"We tried to create excitement with colors to show neighborhoods," he said. "Everything about this design has an educational opportunity."
Once receiving the bids Sept. 13, Dille & Traxel will then make a recommendation to the board during next month's meeting.
"Then it is in your court to do something," Pollard said.
The board approved raising the tax rate levy by $0.0311 from last year, setting the levy at $3.6503 in a 5-1 vote, with Board President John Scott casting the opposing vote.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Rod Priest reported from the tax levy, the district will continue to collect the state minimum of $2.75 for general funds.
The debt service was set at 18 cents, which was rolled back from the state's recommendation of 22 cents.
Capital projects will receive 72 cents. The voters approved a levy of 80 cents for capital projects, which was only collected at that amount the first year passed.
"We are still well below the voter approved tax levy overall and we are not collecting anywhere near what our legal capacity is," Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said.
After recently approving a paper bid, Priest said the company failed to honor their contract and no paper was ever delivered.
To get the school year started, Priest bought paper from Sam's Club and several pallets from a company in St. Louis.
Of four bids received, the board approved Office Depot as the supplier at $25.54 per case for 840 cases of paper.
Office Depot is scheduled to deliver the paper within four weeks of being awarded the contract.
Board policy IGBD, which identifies at-risk students, and board policy JHD, which involves student guidance and counseling, were approved by the board.
Dill reported all requirements regarding the IGBD policy were already in place at the high school, so this approval just formalized the policy. Dill said he was also told by individuals involved with the JHD policy, nothing would change.
The 2018-19 bus routes presented by Transportation Director Ronnie Martin were also approved by the board.
In spite of the few route changes, Martin reported everything went really well during the first week of school.
"The first Friday was as good as you could ask for and the first Monday was even better for a first Monday," Martin said as the district settles into a new school year.
The Summer School Program and Curriculum Program evaluations and assessments presented by Assistant Superintendent Patty Robertson was unanimously approved by the board.
During the discussion, Robertson reported the graduation rate was 93.6 percent last year, increasing from the year before.
While the graduation rate is increasing, Robertson reported attendance has been declining over the past three years despite efforts with truancy court and attendance trackers.
"Attendance is something we are talking about," she said. "We want 90 percent of students here 90 percent of the time."
Dill reported attendance was at 4,775 students, up from 4,733 students this time last year.
No specific time during the school year sees a decline in student attendance, but Robertson said the elementary buildings have better 90/90 attendance, opposed to the junior high and high school buildings.
While the declining attendance numbers cost the district points on their Annual Performance Review (APR), Dill said the conversation was about more than APR points.
"Every day counts," he said. "We want every kid here every day because we believe they benefit from what we have to offer and their lives will be enriched and better for being in attendance at Poplar Bluff R-1 School District."
The next Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in the central office board room, located at 1110 N. Westwood Blvd.