School looks at improvements, growing

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 3/21/18

The North Bend Central Board of Education looked into the future at its March 12 meeting.

They began the meeting with Steve Arneal saying he had been selected as a Monsanto Fund American’s Farmers Grow Communities winner. He designated the $2,500 he won for the high school for a project yet to be determined.

Bob Soukup from Carlson West Pondra Architects presented the bids received for the construction at the elementary school. Soukup had checked references and recommended hiring B3 Building Group out of Elkhorn. They entered the low bid of $201,342. The board approved this expenditure 5-1 with Poessnecker dissenting. Work will begin before school is out on the area by the main entry with a completion date of Aug. 1.

Soukup said that the cost has gone up from his initial estimate because of the economic growth and an increase in the amount of construction going on.
Craig Jones from First National Capital Markets spoke to the board about paying ahead on the 2013 bond. He showed options for paying down the bond. By paying the final payment (due June 15, 2033) of $634,372.50 for the June 2018 payment will bring the interest rate down from 2.84 percent to 2.78 percent and result in an annual savings of $19,372.50, or a gross savings of $261,599.89.

“I haven’t seen a district in as good a position as you are in,” Jones said.
The board listened to Jones’ information but took no action.

The board approved the expenditure of $22,316.18 to replace the phone system at the elementary school.

“The intercom system and phones at the elementary school are antiquated,” Superintendent Dan Endorf said. “For safety reasons they need to be updated.”

Prime Communications, whom the board has worked with before, will do the work. Endorf said the new system will be connected with the high school and will be more efficient and safer.

The vehicle fleet was examined with the need for a reliable spare bus needed.

“We lost two busses last year,” maintenance director Kevin Ferguson said. “We only have one backup. We need them for the number of activities we have.”
The board gave Ferguson permission to look at used buses and buy one if he feels it is a good buy.

In other action the board:

• heard softball coach Dan Nelson speak about co-oping with Cedar Bluffs. He has spoken to the girls at NBC and CB and all were in favor of the joint effort. Nelson also spoke to the board about the need to change the fencing on the back of the softball field.

• heard elementary principal Tessie Beaver on bussing of preschoolers. The board approved the continuation of the program with the same evaluation/preparation of the students.

• hired Robyn Schweitzer as school psychologist

• moved to offer teacher contracts for the 2018-2019 school year

• authorized Endorf to sell or dispose of surplus items that the school has accumulated.

The next meeting will be April 9 at 7:30 p.m.

<<Back to the front page