Project update given (04/25/06)

Despite a setback last week, the renovation project at Jay County High School is on schedule, said Ron Krieg, coordinator of buildings and grounds for Jay Schools.

Superintendent Barbara Downing presented an update on the project to the Jay School Board Monday, including a water main break that occurred Friday about 10 a.m.

According to Krieg, main contractor Crosby & Son sliced the water main to the high school several times, leaving the building without water for the rest of the day.

Workers were at the high school all weekend fixing the break.

“They hit us and put us without water, but we were able to utilize our emergency plan and everything worked out fine,” he said.

Bottled water was supplied for the students to drink, and large gallon jugs were bought to be used in the kitchen, Krieg said.

“Part of the problem was we didn’t know where the water line was,” said Krieg, explaining that there aren’t any as-built blueprints available for the building.

This posed a problem as Krieg said the water line would need to be moved about 30 or 40 feet.

“The first time (they hit it), they did us a favor,” said Kreig.

Krieg said that the cost incurred from the damage will not be absorbed by the school corporation.

“We will bill them,” he said. “They will have the opportunity to pay for that.”

Downing added that demolition of the pool area and locker rooms is complete, the boiler room demolition has begun and remaining standing walls have been properly secured.

All summer programs and classes available through John Jay Center for Learning will be relocated to East Jay Middle School, and principal Wood Barwick and his staff will move their offices there as well.

Band practices will remain at the high school.

Also, several other offices, including guidance, will be moved to the English classrooms for the summer.

The school board also accepted two change orders presented by Downing, which allowed the corporation to purchase HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) equipment from Trane Company early at a discount, possibly allowing A. Hattersley & Sons, mechanical contractors, to begin installation of the HVAC earlier than scheduled.

Downing said this returned $101,600 back in to the project.

“It allows us to move more quickly and adds more money to the project,” said Downing.

Jay Schools business manager Brad DeRome presented the financial statement for March, noting that Jay Schools received the March State Basic Grant, in the amount of $1,409,357, and that interest earned in the month of March totaled $18,133.

Interest accumulated this year is $64,000, which is about $25,000 more than interest accumulated this time last year.

DeRome said that despite those positive numbers, higher-than-usual medical claims are still a concern.

Year-to-date medical claims and prescriptions total $1,331,000. DeRome said that if claims continue at that rate, costs would total about $5.3 million for the year.

“It we keep up this pace, it will be $700,000 higher this year than last,” he said.

DeRome did add that March medical claims were lower than in February, and though final numbers for April are not yet available, those claims appeared to be lower still.

“We still predict it to be a tight, difficult year,” said DeRome.

In the other business:

•Downing offered commendations to JCHS gymnast Hannah Williams for her outstanding performance this season and to basketball player Tyler Rigby in recognition of receiving the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award.

In addition, Downing offered a commendation to Coach Craig Teagle and the coaching staff of the boys basketball team.

“They worked as a team, but you instilled that in them,” she said.

Downing then gave certificates of achievement for Teagle to distribute to the rest of the team.

“I’ve given a lot of speeches this season,” Teagle said. “But I guess they made me look pretty smart.

•Voted to increase the driver’s education cost from $280 to $287 a student and the stipend paid to teachers of driver’s education to $24 an hour, up from $20 an hour.

•Approved five more volunteers for the Kids Hope USA program in Jay County Elementary schools.

•Approved the resignation and retirement of several Jay schools employees.

Among those retiring are Connie Roberts, East Elementary teacher; Judy Lightle, Judge Haynes Elementary teacher; Linda Frantz, East Elementary teacher; Gerald Hazlet, West Jay Middle School teacher and Karen Storie, West Jay Middle School teacher.

“We wish them well in their retirement,” said Downing.[[In-content Ad]]