By Anthony Varriano
Ranger-Review Staff Writer
The Glendive Unified School Board of Trustees approved a $73,209 bid from local contractor Richard Schwartz to repair the leaky roof over the science wing at Washington Middle School during a meeting held early Friday morning.
“We can go ahead with the low bid because it does not exceed the $80,000 threshold required by state law,” superintendent of schools Ross Farber said at the morning meeting, which was specifically scheduled to have a vote and get work started on the roof as soon as possible.
The roof has been in place since the early 1980s and has more than fulfilled its life expectancy, according to discussion. It’s been leaking for some time now, and WMS Principal Mark Goyette said at the GUSB regular monthly meeting held Monday that he’s afraid the water will begin damaging the floors of the science wing. Goyette hoped to get the work done before winter. That might be possible as temperatures are expected to remain in the 50s and 60s until Oct. 25.
Schwartz offered to do repairs on the entry way roof for free if his bid was accepted, which was roughly $16,000 less than a competing bid from Thiel Brothers Roofing out of Sidney.
“I just think, down the road, we could use that $16,000 on something,” Goyette said Friday.
Another expense WMS is facing involves technology, as Goyette said the computer labs aren’t reliable enough for testing and that tablets help. The school has raised almost $28,000 selling pies to specifically spend on tablets.
On Monday, the board also approved the spending of $5,602.50 that Jefferson Elementary School raised to purchase Chrome books. Jefferson Elementary School Principal Stephen Schreibeis said he’s in the process of purchasing 25 Chromebooks and a cart out of the activities fund, adding that he wants to buy one more cart so the school has a set of Chromebooks for each grade level. He’ll also be using box top monies to give the teachers who collected the most box tops four Chromebooks in their classrooms.
“We have these netbooks that we can’t even update anymore … Eventually, I want four Chromebooks in every single classroom,” he said.
Work in the JES basement is nearly complete. The new boiler is up and running and temperature regulators are still being installed. Schreibeis said they do have control over the temperature in some classrooms, but the problem now is the school is too warm.
Schreibeis is also implementing a policy for everyone to have a badge when entering the school.
“All staff are now wearing the badges, and we are working on getting badges for our substitutes and volunteers,” Schreibeis reported. “We really want to make sure everyone is checking into the office and there is a way that others can check if that is happening or not.”
Also on Monday, the GUSB approved Sunday travel and some transportation funding for the WMS Student Council to make an annual trip to the State Student Council Conference in Glasgow over the Halloween weekend.
Since the WMS student council representatives will be staying with host families, they requested $800 for transportation costs, half of which would be covered by the Circle Student Council if they join WMS on the trip.
DCHS Principal Wade Murphy requested to use activities funds to purchase five, $10,000 CDs (certificate of deposit) to “generate a little more income before we start spending all of it.” The fund is healthy right now and Murphy said the interest made by the CDs will be a good way to save up for future fuel, hotel and transportation costs. As distrcit classification change there may be longer road trips or more overnight road trips. That request was voted upon and passed unanimously.
New high school hires approved by the board include substitutes Tanya Holzer and Ricki Franks, accompanist Dorian Hrubes, custodian Alan Fife, concessionaire Bob Pierce, tech assistant Janna McCormick, and assistant boys basketball coach Trevor Houck. Elementary hires include WMS custodian Kenneth Reierson, substitute Maria Adiletto, mentor Nancy Pedersen, Jefferson custodian Dustin Wilburn, and at Lincoln custodian Linda Peel.
The next strategic planning board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at DCHS.
Reach Anthony Varriano at rrsports@rangerreview.com.