Voting Monday Nov. 28 with 5 ayes, 1 nay and one abstention, the Stanley- Boyd School Board approved construction bids for Phase 1 of the ongoing bus loop, middle school remodel, and interior doors alternate. The doors would allow areas of the school to be sealed off from one another for security purposes.

Winning the bid for work on the north bus loop were Haas Sons Inc. for fill and Monarch for paving, while Rhom Construction took the middle school honors, with a total cost of $2,143,391.70 after factoring in a $708,960.70 contingency and fees as well as $239,945 alternate for interior security doors. The contingency funds includes possible asbestos abatement, as it was shared by Carlson that asbestos was contained in some building components up to 1968.

“That’s pretty late,” he said of the material once used as a fire stopper.

The north bus loop itself, meanwhile, makes up approximately a third of the total project cost, which prompted a reaction by board member Chad Verbeten.

“I’m struggling with spending $638,000 on what’s basically a parking lot,” he said, before voting ‘no’ on the measure, adding, “I’m concerned about what some of our constituents might say.”

Motion to approve the bids by Haas Sons, Monarch, and Rhom for Phase 1 construction was made by Denise Hoffstatter, with Lance Carlson giving a second. Board member Toni Seidl abstained from the vote due to her husband working for one of the bidders.

Attempting to answer Verbeten’s misgiving’s prior to the vote, Carlson pointed out his view that it wasn’t just a parking lot but that the district would be getting rid of a water problem near the building as well.

Phase 1 plans call for a drainage channel to be placed under the road running between the school and current practice field, with the lack of a sidewalk by the greenhouse on the north side reportedly making bus drivers nervous as well.

In short, safety is also at issue in the north bus loop question. Were nothing to be done, it would be safest to bring the buses back around to the south.

As to middle school plans in Phase one, these call for a locker room remodel, totaling $556,198 of the $2.143 million total cost.

Also determined for construction related items at the November school board meeting was the next oversight committee meeting, due to take place in early February. Following Phase 1 a referendum survey would be prepared for subsequent phases of construction, with survey questions potentially determined by August of 2023 before being sent out in September, with results expected mid-October of next year. The district currently has around $6 million saved towards construction costs.

As to non-construction related news from school board, the student council gave an update, stating that members were looking for more academic celebration opportunities and had recently provided popcorn for students who got A’s and B’s.

School board meetings are held the fourth Monday of the month in the high school library, the public being invited to attend. A board conversation meeting is held the week before.