Some moments of reflection opened Monday evening's Jefferson City Public Schools Board of Education meeting as last Tuesday's election results were approved by the board and new members were sworn in.
First came a moment of silence offered by outgoing President John Ruth in memory of Joyce Kaiser, who passed away in February, and Lorraine Adkins, who passed last Wednesday. Kaiser, 69, was the first female principal in the JCPS system. Adkins, 88, was a well-known community figure from her real-estate work, role in organizing the "Wreaths for Heroes" program and as the wife of Coach Pete Adkins.
Ruth and outgoing Treasurer Ken Theroff were recognized by Superintendent Larry Linthacum for their service on the board. Linthacum was in turn recognized for his outreach efforts on the two high school plan.
As they prepared to leave, Theroff and Ruth reflected on their tenures and thanked many community members who worked for passage of the bond issue and operating levy proposals.
Ruth's parting advice was to "embrace fire," noting the hottest fire creates the strongest steel. "The steel is much stronger today than when we found it some years ago," he said of the shape of the district, with fire a symbol of constructive renewal in the district.
Following the two men's exits, incumbent board member Steve Bruce and the two newly-elected board members Scott Hovis and Lori Massman were sworn in. The votes to fill three vacant leadership positions on the board followed:
Bruce was unaimously voted to be the board's new president;
Rich Aubochon was unanimously voted to be the board's new vice-president;
Michael Couty and Lorelei Schwartz were both nominated to be the board's treasurer. Opposition to Couty's nomination was 5-2 though, and Schwartz was approved as treasurer without opposition.
The new board immediately dove into new business and approved the low base bids on four contracts, presented by Maintenance Supervisor John Moon:
Replacement of the gym floor at Thomas Jefferson Middle School by Charles Luebbert Hardwood Floors, $138,396. This will be the first time the floor has been replaced since Jefferson City's two middle schools were built. Moon cited wear and tear on the floor near the doors, as well as there being "dead spots" affecting performance of balls in play on the court. Per his recommendation, the board did not approve additional spending on new bleachers at Thomas Jefferson, and may explore those next year when placing bids for the replacement of the gym floor at Lewis and Clark Middle School.
Minor classroom renovations at Nichols Career Center for spaces vacated by State Tech, for use as classrooms in the coming school year, $134,800. Moon said lead must be removed from some walls where it was a necessary component for dental career-training work involving X-rays. He and Linthacum also assured the invested work would remain in place during and after the approved larger-scale renovations of the current high school.
Replacement of one 27-year-old section of roof at Simonsen 9th Grade Center damaged by wind, $181,183. The roofings currently is weighted down with paver stones, and Moon said consultants are concerned the combined weight of the stones and snow in the future will be too much strain. Short-term fixes without any permanent guarantees would cost about half as much as the contract. Given students will be in the building for two more years, and the building may be sold after that, the board felt it was a necessary investment, despite the building's uncertain future.
Replacement of the roof at the Food Service Building, $21,863.
The bids for at least the Thomas Jefferson and Nichols renovations include $15,000 of contingency funds, which would be refunded to the district if not used.
The board also approved a recommendation from district Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer Jason Hoffman to reduce all premiums for the district's health insurance options by 8 percent.
Per the same recommendation, the board also approved to reduce board contribution to the district's medical trust by eight percent.
Hoffman recommended that savings be passed along to staff as earnings increases in their salary schedules, though the board will decide on that later.