Columbus Junction School Board moves forward with more maintenance and repair projects

Jim Rudisill
·3 min read

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — A range of summer maintenance and repair projects have previously been approved by the Columbus School Board; and that momentum continued during its regular meeting on Monday when the board accepted quotes for three additional projects.

The board last month accepted painting and carpeting bids totaling nearly $69,500 for several of the district’s buildings.

At Monday’s meeting, the board accepted an $18,750 bid from ACC Construction of Columbus Junction to repair beams, conduct electrical repairs and complete other work in the high school library.

A $15,180 bid from SPEC Athletic of Plainfield, Illinois, also was accepted by the board to replace the flooring in the weight room. Board member Carol Zuniga said the company used a special flooring that will better withstand the usage in the room.

The board also approved a $14,337 bid from Culligan of Coralville for a new water softener in Roundy Elementary. Board member Todd Heck questioned if the proposed unit will be able to soften water throughout the building, but building and grounds director Rob Edwards was uncertain.

After discussing the unit, the board agreed to accept the bid, pending confirmation it is capable of softening the water for the entire building.

In other financial action, the board agreed to reimburse the school’s activity fund for safety equipment and officials fees from the district’s general fund.

District business manager Neil Mills told the board the activity fund had a $12,157 deficit that must be covered. He said the pop fund and interest would cut the deficit to $7,226. Adding another $5,503 in reimbursement for the safety equipment and $414 from the Muscatine School District for use of the FAT timing system would mean only $1,309 in officials fees would need to be covered for the activity fund to be balanced.

However, there is about $20,259 in actual officials fees, meaning the district still will face a shortfall in the next fiscal year. The board agreed to reimburse the entire amount of fees.

Mills said the problem will reappear in the next fiscal year since the activity fund is the source for officials fees and similar costs.

The board also approved Teacher Leadership and Compensation stipends for teachers and other staff engaged in leadership roles in the district.

The stipends include $11,000 to director of instruction Kristen Payne; $6,000 to instructional coach Maureen Minks; and $500 each to the district’s 11 building leadership team members.

The board also discussed the possible purchase of a new 15-passenger bus or a 12-passenger van, but eventually opted to delay the purchase after learning there was no guarantee the vehicle could be delivered within the next two years.

In final action, the board:

  • Approved several personnel actions, including two resignations, eight new hires, one voluntary transfer and two involuntary transfers. Board member John Chaney voted against the involuntary transfers;

  • Set the Fiscal Year 2023 board meeting dates, using the fourth Monday of each month with the exception of Dec. 19 because of winter break;

  • Agreed to reimburse Beth Hills, one of the involuntary transfers, for the cost of attending special education courses to obtain required certifications;

  • Approved an increase in the school insurance deductible to $2,500, which will save the district around $7,000 a year in insurance premiums;

  • Met with new secondary principal Dr. Lisa Stevenson, who provided her first administrative report.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Columbus Junction School Board moves forward with repairs, maintenance