Marion schools back to normal after death of student
Board considers new roof, heating and cooling systems for east wing of elementary
By KATHY HAGEMAN
Staff writer
"Last week was not a good week for Marion," commented Gerry Henderson, Marion-Florence USD 408 Superintendent of Schools.
Henderson was referring to the death of Marion High School student Calvin Riggs and the effect it had on other students, staff, and the community.
"But we have a good crisis management plan. And it helped us get as close to normal in our schools as we could possibly get," Henderson said.
The superintendent made his comments at the close of the board of education meeting Monday night.
"We weren't ready Tuesday to play ball (basketball), but by Friday we were. And poor Herington — we blitzed them," Henderson said.
The superintendent thanked district administrators and staff for helping students deal with the situation.
Riggs, an MHS senior and member of the basketball squad, died during the early morning hours of Jan. 4 in a one-car accident. Sleet and snow flurries were a contributing factor.
New roof?
After discussion, the board voted 6-0 to seek bids for a new roof over the east wing at Marion Elementary School. Board member Sarah Cope was not present during the meeting.
Architect Martin R. Hanney of Hanney and Associates Architects, Wichita, gave the board a cost estimate on mechanical systems located on the roof.
Last month, the board authorized Hanney to come up with detailed drawings which would allow them to make a more accurate cost estimate before deciding whether or not to send the project out for bid.
Hanney said he had received a base bid of $19,000 to remove the mechanical equipment off the roof, do the ductwork, and complete other basic work on the mechanical systems.
"We have a piece of equipment up there dated from 1959," Hanney said. Board members agreed the 1959 air conditioning unit needed to be removed.
Because the project involves the new metal roof over the east wing and a raised roof over the kitchen area, Hanney suggested subbing out the project to two separate roofing contractors eliminating the need for a general contractor.
He noted that contractors usually have experience in one type of roof or the other, but seldom are they experienced with both.
"I recommend a roofing program for the metal roof and another for the built-up roofing," Hanney told the board. Thus, there would be at least four bids, two separate (roof) packages, one mechanical and one electrical bid.
Board members discussed whether to use the current heating and cooling systems or obtain new ones.
Martin Tice, district business manager/board clerk, said the current units were somewhere between 10 and 15 years old.
"If you're going to redo it (roof), now is the right time to replace them," Tice suggested.
Hanney agreed, commenting that those systems always seem to develop problems after they've been removed and then put back into place.
Tice said he had been in touch with a grant writer who felt the district would not qualify for any grant money.
Last month, the board directed Hanney to look into the possibility of finding grant money which might be available for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.
MES first grade teacher Michelle Adkins questioned whether the board planned to have the ceiling areas above the classroom inspected for mold, commenting that she had noticed a "lot of sick kids."
Hanney said there was "not a lot of organic material up there for mold to eat through."
Tice said the only potential place where mold could be growing would be in the ductwork and that would be taken out during the roofing project.
Hanney and the board agreed the entire project could cost approximately $250,000 including the roof, mechanical, and electrical systems work.
Board vice president Gene Bowers questioned how that expenditure would affect the district's capital outlay fund.
"It would put capital outlay down where it could hurt," Bowers said.
Tice agreed, saying spending that money could leave only about $100,000 left in capital outlay.
"Are we ready to take this out to bid and see what we get back?" questioned board president Rex Savage. "And I suggest we don't take this out to bid if we don't intend to do it."
The board then approved sending the project out for bid separating it out without using a general contractor.
In other matters, the board:
— approved a request for several Marion High School students to participate in a Model United Nations activity on March 1-2.
— re-appointed Belinda Skiles to serve as the district's representative on the Marion-Florence REC commission by a vote of 6-0.
— board member Kathy Meierhoff questioned why the band does not play during varsity girls' basketball games.
Athletic director/Marion Middle School principal Tod Gordon said that band members are usually not available at that time due to the early start.
"The crowd doesn't usually begin to filter in until around half-time," Gordon said. But he and Marion High School principal Ken Arnhold said it might be something worth considering.
— heard from Stan Ploutz, MES principal, that Marion Police officer Josh Whitwell will be going into the classroom as part of a new safety/health project, a substitute for the DARE program.
