The South Central School Board was updated on delays in the completion of the Middle School addition to join the main building and gym as well as the renovation of the gym.
The project manager for Poettker Construction, Ryan Fuller, says they are being delayed by the arrival of materials, but most are now scheduled to arrive by October first. Fuller said he would work with the contractors to get the new bathrooms for the gym completed next week. In the interim, those needing restrooms will be directed to the renovated bathrooms in the main part of the building. Fuller said they would also make the concession stand useable until it is completely finished.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes is confident they can work around the portions of the project not yet completed.
“We are just waiting on some of the glass panels to come in and really don’t have a timetable on when those archway panels will go in. It’s a nice feature we put back in the gym. Looks like everything else from middle to late October will be finished.”
The archway panels are tentatively scheduled to arrive around November 1st. Herdes says the slow delivery of materials is also keeping the school district from moving forward on needed electrical work. He reports the delay in new electric transformers is now 40 weeks.
Herdes reported they are currently working on a contract for installation of the solar systems at all three buildings. He’s hopeful the systems can be online next summer which will cut the district’s cost of electricity by more than half.
Herdes also reported more high school students are attending the Okaw Vocational Center in Vandalia for half the day.
“They went from 14 to 26 so kids really have an interest and we are strongly encouraging that as a track for the vocational areas that they get the instruction at OKAW which is advanced welding and advanced mechanics.”
Herdes says other students are going to Salem Community High School to spend a half-day in their nursing program. The district is paying about half of the student aid they receive for the students, about $3,700, for the outside education.
High School Principal Jamie VanScyoc reported about 75 percent of the high school students are leaving early each day at 2:35 because all their grades are good. The other 25 percent of the students who are struggling are receiving extra instruction in the final hour of the day to try and catch up. VanScyoc feels the struggling students are receiving an incentive to do better so they can also leave early.
The board held a public hearing on its budget for the current school year. Herdes says the budget is in the black. He projects revenue will outweigh expenses by $220,000.
In personnel action, the board accepted the resignations of Shelley Mcelroy as well as Hali Brown as Middle School Assistant Basketball Assistant. The board hired Emily Reynolds as lunchroom supervisor, Shane Lother Middle School Girls Basketball Assistant, and Miriam Blomberg as Volunteer Middle School Assistant Cheer Coach. Medical leaves were approved for Shelby Mccarty and James Mulvaney.
