(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake school board Monday reviewed revised cost estimates for the Sami Bedell Performing Arts Center and a new gymnasium at the high school.
Architect Steve Miller reported the Sami Center is slightly more than one percent over budget, with an actual construction cost estimated at nearly eight million dollars. Miller told the board the difference between that and the 7.9 million dollars budgeted for the project will be made up by reducing the project’s contingency fund.
Miller reported the gymnasium project is also pretty much on budget. 2.4 million has been budgeted for that project.
A bidletting for both projects is set for June 21st. Miller says contractors will have the option to bid on either or both projects, with a number of alternates for each. The school board will meet in special session June 24th to consider the bids. A groundbreaking on the Sami Center is set for 2:30 p.m. May 20th; a ceremony for the gymnasium is tentatively set for 7:00 p.m. June 21st.
The board also set May 25th as the date for a special meeting to consider authorizing the issuance of 6.2 million dollars in School Infrastructure Local Option Sales and Service Tax Revenue Bond Anticipation Notes that would help fund both projects.
In other business, board members learned a remodeling project in the Schuchert area in the high school is no expected to come in below the revised estimate of nearly 602-thousand dollars; they decided to continue talks with the Okoboji School District into the possibility of sharing debate; reviewed the 2003-2004 audit; and terminated contracts for Kelly Jones as Pan Am Club coach and Becky Cobb as Assistant Drill Team and Assistant Cheerleading coach. The positions were eliminated as the result of budget reductions the board acted on at their April 11th meeting.
The board also adopted a new attendance policy for the High School effective with the 2005-2006 school year.
