Construction will start in October on a new Early Childhood Center, but Poplar Bluff school officials will likely have to decide on a mid-year move for the program under current timelines.
The R-I Board of Education approved a bid Thursday of $5,887,900 for the project from Brockmiller Construction of Farmington. A ground breaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 11. Doors to the kindergarten center will open at 9:30 a.m., with refreshments available.
Brockmiller, the low of four bidders, would have until Nov. 1, 2019, to complete the project. The 34,000-square-foot building will be attached to the current kindergarten center on Camp Road.
"That will give us plenty of time if we decide to move at semester," said Rod Priest, associate superintendent of business and finance. "At that time, the decision may be made, let's just wait, but it gives you the opportunity to get moved in."
A mid-year move would be more challenging for teachers, according to board member Alana Robertson.
"I don't want them to have to prepare a room and then have to prepare another room. And then if they move at semester, that means they're going to give up their Christmas vacation to move and set up a classroom," she said.
An original completion date of Aug. 19 was dropped from the project because it would have added between $50,000-$100,000 in costs, said Mike Pollard of Dille & Traxel Architecture. The original date would also have been after the start of school, he said.
No decisions were made concerning the move. Brockmiller will be penalized for each day construction runs past the Nov. 1 deadline, unless they receive an approved bad weather day extension.
The new building will include 12 classrooms split evenly between 3-year-old and 4-year-old students. A testing office, two speech rooms, space for a library, Parents as Teachers, administrative personnel and other areas are also planned. The facility will have a 175-space parking lot.
Other bids on the project included (approximate): Kiefner Brothers, $6 million; Zoellner Construction, $6.4 million; and Boulder Construction, $5.995 million.
Alternate bids were also taken for additional paving. Brockmiller submitted $72,000 for the alternate bid.
The company recently completed a project at Williamsville for the Greenville school district, officials said.
Planning also needs to be done regarding an alternative school, which will move into the Mark Twain campus after early childhood relocates, Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said.
In other business, the board:
* Reviewed district finances and bills.
Bills include $35,482 from ServPro to pay for water damage clean up at the high school that occurred in February. The district will be reimbursed by liability insurance for the cost, according to officials.
The district will also pay Pyramid Roofing Company $67,670 for a new roof at Oak Grove Elementary for offices and classrooms.
* Approved a bid 4-3 for the purchase of a L.S. front loader medium duty tractor from Magee Farm Equipment. The low bidder, Magee bid $21,500 with a trade in of $6,000 on the district's current tractor. Voting against the purchase were board members Ken Davis, Jerrod Murphy and Heather Tuggle. Questions were asked during the meeting about the maker of the tractor and other options concerning repair of the current tractor.
* Approved a report on migratory and homeless students. This included 97 students in 2017-18, up from 85 students the previous year, according to the report. Families who lack a fixed or regular night time resident fall under this designation, including those who are staying at shelters, motels, campgrounds or doubled up with friends and family.
* Approved a report on graduation and drop-out rates. The graduation rate rose in the past year, to 93.6 percent, according to the report. The board previously approved setting a graduation rate goal of 95 percent.
* Reviewed calendar dates.
School will be dismissed Sept. 24 for a collaboration day.
Senior high parent-teacher conferences will be held Sept. 25.
The next school board meeting will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 18.