The Salem Grade School Board learned Thursday night the four classroom-two bathroom modular building is complete with classes now moved in. The heating and air conditioning equipment is expected to be installed in the new multi-purpose building that will be primarily used for physical education in the next week and a half so classes can begin using it.
Meanwhile, the board was told leaking in the new roof installed last year at Franklin Park Middle School has gotten worse. Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says the problem is in the roof seams that the contractor and the manufacturer, Firestone, are trying to correct.
“It’s not gushing or anything, just if there is a real heavy rain we will come in and it will be wet. We have had a computer get wet and had to replace it and we are worried, and a little carpet area.”
Foppe says the warranty on the roof will take care of all the costs associated with the problem.
She also announced the surveying is being completed on the purchase of seven acres of property from the Hotze family just to the north of the Hawthorn School property.
“Want to have that property so if and when we need to expand we have that area and we want to make sure we have that space just for the school. It gives us an option to utilize it for needs in the future. But it’s nice that it’s so close to our property for us to own that strip will benefit us in the future.”
The board approved its budget for the current school year. Foppe announced all funds in the nearly $15-million budget will be in the black, with a $729,000 surplus in the education fund, $15,363 in the building fund, and $49,233 in the working cash fund. With transfers, the transportation fund has been brought to the break-even level.
Foppe also reported the two new 14 passenger white busses are working well for transporting a small number of students. Coaches and teachers can drive the busses with no special drivers license. The board was told that field trips are resuming at the normal level now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.
The board accepted four resignations. They were from paraprofessionals Kellee Bolton and Sheena Rollinson, cook Kris Crane, and custodian Kody Williamson.
