HOWARD — East Knox’s school board voted Thursday to allow the district to enter into agreements with Elford, Inc. as construction manager, and Fanning/Howey Associates, Inc. as architect for the elementary school building extension project.
The agreement for pre-construction services with Elford will not exceed $20,000, and the district’s agreement with the architect for design and related construction administration services cannot exceed $375,000, according to the resolutions.
The total project is estimated at $5.4 million.
In other construction related business, the junior/senior high school construction is under budget, Supt. Steve Larcomb said.
Larcomb said he expects Elford, who is also completing the junior/senior high school construction, to turn over the keys to the district by Feb. 11, 2022. Subsequently, classroom furniture is planned to to be put in the new building by May.
Construction on the 1994 addition of the building – which contains the gym, cafeteria and some offices and classrooms – is still slated to be completed over the summer of 2022, and for classes to move into the new junior/senior high school at the start of the 2022-23 school year.
Treasurer Jessica Busenburg discussed Individuals with Disabilities Education Act American Rescue Plan funding, one of the federal grants the district is receiving to fund special education.
The ARP IDEA funds are expected to be used for, in order of district priority: pre-school start-up supplies (preschool will return to East Knox next school year), temporary additional speech services for students in Individualized Education Programs, supplies and equipment for physical and occupational therapy, and playground equipment for students with disabilities.
The funds must be spent on new items, and the district has roughly one and a half years to spend it, Busenburg said. The district will have a public hearing at the elementary cafeteria on the proposed 2023 tax budget for the district on Jan. 13, following an organizational meeting at 6 p.m.
In terms of district-wide finances, revenues are up for East Knox compared with last year, Busenburg said.
The board also approved an agreement Thursday with EKEA to have two additional work days for Crisis Prevention Intervention and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports training.
The training, which will occur on May 31, will be paid from Title IIA and Title IVA funds, pending approval from the Ohio Department of Education. The second day, a work day on June 1, will be paid for using general funds.
Other items approved Thursday included a quote from Pro Playgrounds for $23,099 for new elementary playground equipment; a contract with GCL Education Services for student education through the LEAP program via the Village Network residential program; and an $8,450 contract with Resource International for geotechnical services. The board also approved five resignations, a retirement and handful of contracts for positions such as cooks and coaches.
Three people spoke during public participation, one of which was East Knox elementary school music teacher Sarah Jancura.
Jancura recommended the district install a permanent stage, opposed to a temporary stage, as a part of the planned elementary school construction. Other discussion involved comments about education standards.
Board president Matt Schwartz asked those present Thursday to not get personal when participating in the public comment portion of meetings in the future.
“Bear with us, just bear with us,” Schwartz said.
