School board plans to run $2 million-plus bond
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POLSON — The Polson school board unanimously approved a high school district bond resolution to repair the Polson High School roof, building envelope, which includes siding, insulation and other items, and mechanical systems. The amount of the general obligation school building bonds will be up to $2,491,000 during a term of not more than 10 years.
The resolution reads “for the purpose of paying the costs to making certain improvements to the high school building, including installing building exterior energy upgrades and replacing the roof and associated facia and soffits; replacing heating and cooling ventilation system and related components; related improvements; and paying costs associated with the sale and issuance of the bonds.”
According to a proposed timetable, the election will be a mail election with Feb. 26, 2013, as election day. Including this bond with the regular school election isn’t possible because many of the items needed for the PHS project are “long lead items,” which means they need more time to be ordered and shipped.
In conjunction, the board also approved a contract with Dorsey and Whitney LLP as bond counsel for the PHS bond.
Also, the board approved a resolution allowing school district attorney Michael Dahlum to negotiate a contract with McKinstry Company to hire Dan McGee as a performance contractor. As a performance contractor, McGee would run the bidding project, order equipment and ensure it’s installed correctly, hire local contractors and provide guaranteed construction costs.
This would allow McGee to bid out different components of the project “so we’ll have hard numbers before the election.”
McGee would also be present for public meetings, and McKinstry would prepare brochures explaining the project.
The contract would also guarantee the district a certain saving in energy costs.
“... If we say you will save 30 cents and you only save 25 cents, then we will make up the difference,” McGee said. “We don’t like to write those shortfall checks so we’ll come in and try to figure out why it’s not performing like it should and make corrections.”
In other business, Trustee Nancy Lindsey commented that she was concerned about the Palm Springs professional development trip scheduled on Nov. 29 and 30 for building principals, the special education director, the curriculum director, Superintendent Linda Reksten and board chair Caryl Cox.
“I don’t think the community will accept it well,” Lindsey said.
She added that discussions should be held to decide the district’s direction before goals are set.
The trustees interviewed Glenn Fant, Proctor, a candidate for the Dayton/Valley View District position vacated by Andy Learn, who resigned with a year left on his term. Another candidate will be interviewed at the board dialogue meeting scheduled for the Polson Middle School on Dec. 3.
Cherry Valley Elementary School principal Elaine Meeks reported the school received a $14,150 Indian Education for All grant from the Montana Office of Public Instruction.
During a listening period at the start of the meeting, the board heard from two community members about items not on the agenda.
Marine Sgt. Chuck Lewis asked the board why his offer to present his program on veterans and flag etiquette has been ignored by Polson schools for three years.
A volunteer for the Polson Reads program, Alice Erb asked why the program had been disbanded.
“I’ll vouch for the fact that it does good,” Erb said.
The next monthly meeting will be held Dec. 10.
