GENTRY — In a special meeting on Sept. 28, the Gentry School Board moved forward with building plans and voted to seek qualifications from individuals and firms to serve as a construction manager for the building of a diesel technician and vocational classroom facility at the high school.
With the passage of the 3.1 millage increase, the district plans to build a new classroom facility at the intermediate school and a classroom and diesel mechanic lab at the high school. Also in the plans are improvements to the electrical system at the high school and agriculture buildings and a new roof on a portion of the intermediate school which will not be replaced (the building housing a gym, cafeteria and some classrooms on the north side of the bus tunnel).
Advertising to obtain qualifications necessary for the board to select a construction manager was to be published this week. The deadline for the proposals was listed at 4 p.m. on Oct. 12. The top three submitters will be invited to present their qualifications at the Oct. 17 school board meeting.
In a preliminary finance plan presented to the board showing the debt service payments through 2047, a schedule was included in regard to the sale of the bonds indicating a certified copy of the election results should be received by last Friday, paving the way for a published notice of bond sale on Oct. 12 and 19, the bond offered on Oct. 25, school board approval of a bond resolution on Nov. 7 and closing on Dec. 6.
The document indicates the millage increase will generate a maximum annual debt service amount to the district of $621,244. The district is to retire a bond in 2017, saving the district more than $400,000 per year which can also be used for debt service.
Also approved by the board were an annual budget for the 2016-2017 school year and some personnel items. The board accepted the resignation of Kurtis Sharp as night custodian at the high school and hired Lonna Gae Gault as a special education teacher with half-time assignment to Decatur.
General News on 10/05/2016