Apr 21

Written by: ngreditor
4/21/2010 9:50 AM 

School board tables several projects

Kenneth Purscell

The Newman Grove School Board tabled two proposed projects for building enhancements and sent a third project back for further information.

At their April 12 meeting, the board again heard information about a possible new security camera system. The issue has been part of the agenda for several months after a break-in at the school.

The projected cost would be somewhere between $18,000 and $25,000 for cameras that would cover all entrances. However, several questions were raised about the effectiveness or need for such a system.

“If someone broke in wearing a ski mask, we still couldn’t tell who it was,” offered board chair Brad Wallin.

Member Roger Lyon noted that “Lincoln Public Schools doesn’t have a security system. Why do we need one?

“Anything that would be stolen is insured,” he continued. There would be little savings on insurance.

Members did acknowledge that their opinion has changed over time. “Three months ago we would have jumped to put a system in place,” said David Fowlkes.

The board tabled the project indefinitely.

A similar discussion took place over the proposal to replace lighting in the main gym. While an offer had been made for the project, there was a question whether new lighting was needed.

“[Member] Tom Haase and I talked, and there’s no real payoff,” said superintendent Herb Pokorny. “We could probably save a little bit of electricity, but we could save more just by turning lights off.

“No coach has said that we have terrible lighting,” he continued.

This project was also tabled indefinitely.

Members did share a consensus that the tuckpointing project for the gym exterior is necessary maintenance. The board had received a bid from an outside firm that covered sandblasting, tuckpoint, fascia and repair. However, the board tabled the project until next month to give a local firm an opportunity to bid on the entire project.

In other business, the board heard a request from the Cheer/Dance Team to continue counting their participation toward the Bluejay Award. If the team were dropped, there would be only four eligible activities for girls as opposed to five for boys.

The board accepted the resignation of Mandy Nygren as head cook. Judy Tannehill was hired for a part time hot lunch position. The board accepted Suzanne Goedeken’s resignation as science teacher. Karen Malmkar was hired for science teacher. Kylee Sweeter was approved as teacher for agriculture education.

The board also accepted Joan Nelson’s resignation as fourth grade teacher.

Copyright ©2010 Newman Grove Reporter