Air
conditioning work begins at North Platte
by Kim
Ficket
Landmark reporter
Thanks to a recent tax levy question approved by voters,
work has begun on the installation of 41 air conditioning
units at the North Platte School District.
At a recent meeting, board members voted to award the
bid for purchase and installation of the air conditioning
to Nash Gas for $164,280. Superintendent Dr. Francis Moran
stated that it's the district's goal to have all the units
installed by next school year.
Moran also updated the board regarding appropriations
from the state legislation. Since the board meeting, Moran
stated that the regular legislative session had ended
and $133 million appropriations were set aside for education.
As expected, the state was unable to fully fund the education
formula, which makes it the first time the formula hasn't
received 100 percent funding from the legislature. Moran
said that the state is $20 million short of fully funding
all the districts in Missouri.
"Under the circumstances, I think education can
feel fortunate we were given such strong appropriations,"
stated Moran.
According to Moran, the North Platte School District
is one of the first areas to get cut due to its levy being
over $2.75. What that means for the district is that it
will receive 93 percent of what it should have in line
two of the formula and 98 percent in line one of the formula.
Moran stated that line one and two of the formula are
appropriations that determine the funds the district should
receive to operate.
The board also discussed the special education bill,
which clarified wording in the bill for school districts
in Missouri.
"The bill clarified wording that each school district
didn't have to maximize each handicapped child's potential
but instead would have to meet federal government guidelines
to establish an appropriate education environment,"
said Moran.
The board also heard information regarding Senate Bill
319, a reading law established by the state legislature.
The law states that various programs be available to help
students who are reading below their grade level. According
to Moran, because of the reading law the district will
implement remedial programs for those students in summer
school, as well as the establishment of an after school
program to help improve the reading skills of those students.
A bid was also approved for the purchase of 40 computer
units from Kolar Computer in Blue Springs, for $626 per
unit. The cost includes the CPU, monitor and a three-year
warranty.
Moran stated that the board also approved the transfer
of $373,155 in funds for the installation of air conditioning
and to address future and existing facility needs. Moran
said the board's main goal with the future includes the
continued replacement of windows in the future throughout
the district.
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