BY Edward Gehlert

UD STAFF  Writer

egehlert@wardpub.com

Fatima R-3 board members at their April 13 meeting approved a bid for the replacement of 40 doors and door frames, even though the cost exceeded the initial quote made by the architect firm Porter, Berendzen & Associates, P.C. by more than $46,000.

Jay Berendzen told the board that the bids they had received were higher than what they had expected to replace the 40 doors and door frames in question, which was $1,200 per door for an initial quote of $48,000.

The lowest bid was $94,500 and had been submitted by Verslues Construction. The second-lowest bid came in from SIRCAL Contracting and was $135,700. 

“(The bid) was a little higher than we anticipated but one of the problems is wood doors are about a five to six-month wait right now,” said Berendzen. “I think we had estimated around $70,000 but it is up to over $90,000. If you want to act on it, the sooner the better. If you want to do the project, you need to act tonight I think. The longer we wait the longer that lead time gets on the doors.

“Verslues has to verify all the existing conditions,” Berendzen continued. “They’ll come in and do that Friday.”

“If you don’t accept it tonight then we’ll probably rebid it in November and hope everything is in by this time next year. Maybe the price is higher,” Woody told the board.

“Everything is so volatile right now,” Berendzen added.

The board voted to accept the bid from Verslues Construction.

In other business, board members accepted the resignations of preschool teacher Nicole Schmidt, school nurse Lynn Reasons, and Special Education Director Kristie Scrivner, and voted to approve the retirement of cook Cheryl Jaegers.

  The board voted to hire Alexa Holzschuh as a preschool teacher, Travis Carn as a junior high Social Studies teacher, and Christy Sankey as a special education teacher.

  The board listened to a presentation by Brad Wegman from the financial firm L.J. Hart & Company on general obligation bonds and lease certificates of participation. A full story on this presentation will be published next week.

  Graduation is May 15 at 7:30 p.m.

  Bills were approved for $425,759.26.

  The next meeting is scheduled for May 18 at 7 p.m.

REPORTS

Woody reported that there is a discussion that the Missouri Senate may put Gov. Mike Parson’s plan to increase new teacher pay to $38,000 back in the budget.

“That would only affect teachers making under $38,000 in their annual salary. This is a 70-30 percent matching program. We would provide the 30 percent. These numbers I’m giving you guys, I want to stress, are very, very rough. I put it together this afternoon. We have approximately 14 folks that are under $38,000 for next year. To bring them up to the $38,000 mark would cost $28,140,” said Woody.

He added that this was only to raise the teacher minimum salary and no plan is currently in place to increase wages across the board.

“We would have staff sitting at just barely over $38,000. I’m talking like $200 and they would get nothing. Do you see where I’m coming from here? It’s complete BS,” said Woody. “Just to give you an idea, if we bumped our base to $38,000 and then bumped the steps accordingly and allowed the calculations to work out, you’re looking at somewhere in the ballpark of a quarter of a million dollars or more. If I’m a fifth-year teacher sitting at $38,200 and you bring a first-year person in at $38,000 … that’s crap.”

Woody said that he is supportive of salary increases but he believes the increase should benefit everybody.

Woody informed board members that the Missouri House of Representatives put $37 million into its budget to fund Career Ladder. 

High School Principal Sharyl Kelsch reported that prom will be held on April 23 and juniors will be decorating on Friday of that week.

The district is working on summer school and fall registration.

The Show-Me Conference Art Show was held on April 12 at the Miller Performing Art Center in Jefferson City.

  Fatima students participated in SkillsUSA, with five placing in state at the competition. 

Colby Kremer finished first in Sheet Metal and Jacob Buhr was first in Automotive Refinishing Technology. Both qualified for nationals.

Isaac Falter finished first in Sheet Metal Tech Information, Henry Deeken took second in Mechatronics, and Peter Borgmeyer earned third in Carpentry.

Currently there are 506 students in grades 7-12 and attendance is 95.3%.

Assistant Principal and Coach Matt Verslues reported that the baseball and softball scoreboard should be up in the next month or so.

“The outdated ones will be taken down,” he said. “I think the delay is because of all of the digging. They have to put in concrete so it’s kind of a big project.”

Girl’s district soccer will be tentatively held on May 16 and May 18. There are only four teams.

The Fatima Athletic Booster Club golf tournament is scheduled for June 3.

Elementary School Principal Melissa Wright reported that grades 4-6 will perform at their music concert on May 5 at 6 p.m.

Missouri Assessment Program testing will start on May 20.

Field Day is set for May 17, rain or shine.

Summer school currently has 144 students enrolled.

Curriculum Coordinator Janah Massman reported that ACT results should be in soon. The test was offered at the school.

“I should be getting those results back I would think in the next two weeks,” she said. “I noticed kids who took the April test at State Tech I have their scores.”

Special Education Director Kristie Scrivner reported her department had 25 students with a 504 plan and staff is currently evaluating two more. Scrivner also told the board that the district had 100 students with an IEP and that 74 evaluations had been completed this year. 

Grant workshop was completed and a community grant has been applied for through Walmart.