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| Serving Callaway County communities since 1875. | www.fultonsun.com | Saturday, July 04, 2009 |
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New Bloomfield district inches closer to improvements with construction plan By ROGER MEISSEN The Fulton Sun
The Board considered what a new wing on the elementary school might look like as well as the new track and baseball field approved in last April's bond issue. They agreed on a plan that would add another seven classrooms straight off the existing hallway on the northwest corner of the elementary building, right next to the library. While several options were available, this layout will move preschool and kindergarten classrooms together on the east side of the building. “We visted with a lady from the Missouri preschool to provide clarity on what might work and not work, and afterward this was drawn up,” Superintendent Mike Parnell said. “We took her down to the current kindergarten room where they saw the size of it and that it had direct access to the outside playground area that's secure, and decided it would be our best option.” This plan allows for both a secure playground area that's easily accessible for both groups, but also fits the space requirement of 35 square feet per preschooler and allows for expansion. While that isn't needed now - only 17 children will be in this year's class that can hold 20 - Parnell pointed out that typically the school has a waiting list for that age group. The placement of the new classrooms would mesh with all these current concerns and ideas for future expanding numbers of students. “If we don't have a playground easily accessible, those kids would have to walk through the building and that might not be desirable,” Parnell said. “With this plan, it's just a matter of what grades we would add where and when we need them.” While the Board considered the classroom additions first in its meeting, the track and baseball diamond will be constructed before any building on the classrooms take place. “The main thing is you want to get the building discussed first, if that's your priority,” Parnell said. “You don't want to go crazy on the track and the ballfield, just get the basics first to make sure we have enough money for everything,” For the track, the Board decided to look into a cooperative plan drawn up by the Cooperating School Districts of greater St. Louis to select a contractor. It allows a school district to forego the regular bidding process and purchase a track from Fisher Tracks in a legal way that would - as Board President Leroy Wade put it - “piggyback on that original contract.” “There's nothing wrong with it - it's legal from lawyers' perspectives and mine,” Parnell said. “You look at it from the perspective that we are a political subdivision that can contract with any private person, agency or association.” The Board will decide at next Thursday's meeting if they will work through this co-op and how much they will purchase. “I want (Fisher Tracks) to break out the cost for the base track and the lining, and show how much more it will cost for the mat and the spray coat on top,” Parnell said. “That gives you guys an option to see how much each costs and if we should do it.” They will also consider whether to create a typical track or one that's wider to accommodate for a possible soccer field in the future. However, no schools in New Bloomfield's conference play either sport so the argument is only hypothetical. “It we're going to build a track, let's just consider what will be the best shape for track, not other sports,” Board Member Susan Bedsworth said. Baseball will also be on the agenda next Thursday. Representatives from Game Time and VSR Design will be present to tell the Board what their services cost and give an estimate for the new field. The Board will be prepared to vote on this at next Thursday's meeting. |
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