Updated at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16.
NEELYVILLE — The Neelyville R-IV Board of Education approved borrowing up to $250,000 during a special meeting April 4 to secure a new building on the Neelyville campus.
During Monday evening’s meeting, Torgerson Design Partners (TDP) of Springfield, Mo., and People’s Community Bank were selected as the architect and loaner to fund a lease/purchase agreement for a new building.
The high school principal’s office building experienced heavy leaking from the roof in February.
The current building houses the high school principal’s office, secretary, counselor, technology coordinator, alternative class/ISS, process coordinator area and the maintenance shop.
With weighing the options of the cost of a roof and additional work needed for the aged building, the board decided to demolish the existing building and look into a 40-by-52-foot building.
Superintendent Brad Hagood said the idea for the new building is to house the current offices plus an additional office space.
According to incoming Superintendent Debra Parish, three architects were contacted by requirement to make proposals. TDP made their proposal while another declined due to its workload and the third did not respond.
The architect will charge a fee of $14,999 for the two phases of the building project. The construction cost of the building is not known as of yet.
Parish said according to area contractors the fee was “quite a bargain.”
Phase one of the office building will include the shell, concrete, rough plumbing and insulation. Phase two will be completing the inside of the building. This will include dry wall, doors, heat, air and more.
Of the five bank proposals for the lease/purchase agreement, People’s Community Bank submitted the lowest interest rate at 4.25% for a 10-year loan term based on $250,000.
The monthly payments will run $2,561.51 with interest payments adding $873.29. This will total a yearly payment of $30,738.12.
According to Hagood, he anticipates the building will cost less than $250,000, but the board has decided to secure that amount.
When the office building is complete, Hagood said the remainder of the money will be used to replace the maintenance shop which is also being replaced in this project.
__REORGANIZATION__
Following the April 2 election, board members Jack Stull and Jill McGruder were sworn in by Hagood.
Gene Russom was elected president of the board with Paul Petty elected to serve as vice-president. Kim Toth, Neelyville bookkeeper, was elected to serve as secretary and treasurer.
__FOOD SERVICE__
Opaa! Food Service Director Angie Rigdon reported to the board previous complaints of cafeteria food had been addressed since she took the helm of the program in October.
Rigdon showed the board a sample photo of what students are required to be offered and what they are receiving, which was more, at Neelyville and Hillview campuses after complaints of running out of food last year.
While Rigdon said she can’t force the older students to take vegetables, the younger children receive a fruit and vegetable bar. The students are also allowed to make as many trips as teachers allow, she said.
“We know kids are getting fed and not walking away hungry,” she said.
In addition to running out of food, Rigdon said she also addressed the poor food quality and service.
“We have tried to make sure Neelyville is getting the service they might not have been getting for awhile,” she said.
Rigdon went on to invite the board back to eat with Opaa! once again and hopes the previous bad experiences stay in the past.
“Any situation that we have had thrown at us so far, I think that we have tried to handle quickly, quietly and dealt with it as efficiently as we can,” she said.
Hagood echoed what Rigdon said and appreciated her willingness to listen and address concerns as brought to her in addition to accepting accountability.
Rigdon said monthly reports will be provided to the board.
__CONTRACT__
Three independent contractors were approved to provide speech, occupational and physical therapy for the district.
According to Special Education Director Dr. Sabrina Morehead, the district’s current provider, Bizee Kidz Therapy LLC, implemented a slight price increase.
To save the district money, while not losing any quality, Morehead recommended three independent contractors for the services.
Miranda Pitman was voted to provide occupational therapy, Michelle Zgaynor for physical therapy and Amy Blackburn for speech.
__NEXT MEETING__
The next Neelyville Board of Education meeting will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 16 at the Central Office board room.