Blair Oaks board talks contractors, school calendar

Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville
Blair Oaks High School in Wardsville

The Blair Oaks Board of Education on Tuesday discussed next steps to approve a contractor for the district's new high school, approved the 2020-21 school calendar and approved creation of a plan to replace the wastewater line under the elementary school.

The final advertisement for the new high school was posted in the News Tribune on Wednesday, and there will be a pre-bid meeting Friday. The contract bids will be announced at an open meeting at 4 p.m. March 3 in the Blair Oaks Middle School Library, and the board plans to approve a contractor at its meeting March 10, Superintendent Jim Jones said.

Next year's school calendar will include two more early-dismissal days than this year to add more time for professional development. School will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. March 4 and April 1, 2021.

The first and last day of school are also different from this year because legislation for next year states that schools cannot start more than two weeks before Labor Day. The first day of school will be Aug. 24, and the last day will be May 21, 2021.

This legislation also affects make-up days. Make-up days in 2021, if needed, will be Feb. 15, March 23, March 22, April 5, April 30 and May 26.

The district will contact The Architects Alliance or another organization to create a formal plan to replace the wastewater line under the elementary school, Jones said. The total project will cost about $60,000 and is planned to be done before next school year, he said. The most efficient option would include removing and replacing the floors in restrooms and a custodian closet, said Director of Buildings and Grounds Randy Prenger.