An "excited" North Callaway R-I Schools Superintendent Bryan Thomsen presented school board members with the certified results from the Nov. 4 election - which included the district's $6 million bond issue - for approval during Thursday night's regular meeting.
The bond issue passed with 67 percent approval in Audrain County and 63 percent approval in Callaway County. There were a total of 1,782 votes cast on Proposition K.I.D.S., with 1,121 - or 63 percent - in favor of the bond issue that will help fund a range of district improvements that include a new ag/science building and a track at the high school, and district-wide technology upgrades.
Those numbers do not include the 31 North Callaway patrons who live in Boone County. Due to a clerical error at the Boone County Clerk's Office, the bond issue did not appear on those ballots. Thomsen said because the bond issue would have had the number of votes necessary to pass even without those 31 votes, the State Auditor will approve the election results as they are.
Several times throughout Thursday night's meeting, Thomsen expressed his thanks for Proposition K.I.D.S. (Keep Improving District Schools) Committee members, district staff and voters for their support of the bond issue and how much he is looking forward to getting started on the proposed projects.
"I was very encouraged by the results (of the vote)," he said. "I can't say it enough - thanks to everyone."
School board member Scott Starkey even made note at one point that a beaming Thomsen looked "like you're really excited."
"I am excited. I just think about what it's going to do for our kids," Thomsen said, echoing an earlier statement that, "We are really excited about the future."
Thomsen also spoke about the next steps for moving forward with the bond issue: Namely, creating more detailed plans for projects such as the new ag/science building and the new bus barn/maintenance shed being coordinated by Architects Alliance, working up RFPs (Requests for Proposals) for district-run projects such as building the new track and replacement of ceiling and floor tiles at various locations throughout the district.
A large part of moving forward is also developing a time line, which means answering questions like whether the district wants to construct the new bus barn and the ag/science building - which currently is planned to go where the existing bus barn stands - and if so, what to do about housing bus maintenance.
There was some discussion about the various options connected to that particular scenario - leasing another building for the bus barn during construction, choosing a new location for the ag/science building, constructing the new bus barn first and then building the ag/science building when it is completed - but ultimately the board decided to wait until the architects develop more-precise time lines for the various projects to make any firm decisions.
Thomsen said Architects Alliance will be at the board's December meeting with a professional services proposal. He said L.J. Hart and Associates - the district's financial advisers - will also be present with paperwork for the bond financing. If everything goes according to schedule, Thomsen said the district should receive the bond funds in January.
In other business, the school board heard the annual audit report from Jim McGinnis of Gerding, Korte and Chitwood, CPA.
McGinnis said the district's general and teacher funds were down to a 17.2 percent balance - due in part to a $9,741 refund from the insurance consortium the district is a part of being considered restricted funds because the district is not allowed to spend it.
McGinnis' notes in the area of internal control and compliance was more positive.
"Your federal programs were perfect this year - it was great," he said. "Your state compliance has been great for several years."