The South Callaway Board of Education awarded bids for several facility upgrades totaling more than $2 million during its meeting Wednesday night.
A tax levy is not necessary for the upgrades, Superintendent Kevin Hillman said, and the money needed will come from the district's capitol improvement fund, which totaled to nearly $4.86 million at the end of April.
The most expensive the improvement projects will go toward the football stadium, complete with a turf field.
ATG Sports Industries, Inc. was the sole bidder for stadium renovations, set to cost the district $1.52 million.
That number includes base work for $1.03 million.
Included in the base work, according to a document provided by South Callaway, is:
•Bond work expectation,
•New regulation goal posts,
•Vault pit,
•Field sweeping requirement,
•Removal of material/dump expectation,
•48-ounce turf football field,
•Dirt work and development for site work for new bleachers,
•Sidewalk,
•Concrete cut/curbing,
•Four-foot high fencing with six gates to surround entire field,
•Warranty on the field for 10 years.
The board also decided the remaining $488,852 will go toward:
•Angle iron constructed bleacher, press box, concrete work and bleacher deck for $406,000,
•New scoreboard with 25-second clocks and custom design with South Callaway colors for $33,040,
•Upgraded lighting for $19,352,
•Re-anchoring and moving the current bleachers forward for $12,400: The current bleachers sit below the football field and will be moved to ensure better viewing for spectators, current bleachers will also be used by fans of the visiting team and South Callaway fans will sit on soon-to-be-built new bleachers on the current visitors' side;
•A 10-year agreement for extra field grooming, cleaning, repair and inspection for $12,310,
•Fiber optic conduit for home side for $2,875,
•Fiber optic conduit for visitor side for $2,875.
Hillman said the district pays $25,000-$28,000 on average per year on field maintenance. The current year's total was higher at $35,000, he said.
An ATG representative said a turf field is "virtually maintenance free." South Callaway can choose to "groom" the field at its own preference, typically before games so the field looks attractive.
Because the board opted for the 10-year warranty and repair work, ATG employees will fulfill requests from South Callaway. When a repair is needed to prevent an injury, the ATG representative said the company quickly solves the issue to ensure the safety of players and students.
A turf field, Hillman said, could last up to 12 years or more.
Hillman added that the timing for the project is appropriate as the district looks ahead to put forward a large sum for its elementary/middle school building - the oldest building at South Callaway - in the next five or so years. When improvements to the elementary/middle school building come along, a turf field and other sports-related updates will not likely be a possibility.
The elementary/middle school building will need roof, drainage and electrical overhauls, Hillman said.
South Callaway will also repair pavement and concrete in its parking lots. Fulton-based companies Glove Con General Constractors, Inc. and Rhad Baker Construction, LLC threw their hats in for the project along with JCI Industries, Inc. of Jefferson City.
Six board members voted for Rhad Baker Construction to be awarded the bid at $308,891. Board president Kit Glover abstained.
Glove Con and JCI bid $388,700 and $462,640, respectively.
Tremco, a roofing and building maintenance company, will work on roof repairs and security entrances for $290,820, and ISG Technology will update the phone system for $95,000.
The South Callaway School Board also recognized two retirees at Wednesday's meeting.
Lisa Cartee, current music teacher for grades third-eighth, will retire after 27 years at South Callaway. She started working for the district when she was 27.
Geralyn Gloe, current nurse at the early childhood building, is leaving South Callaway after 16 years. Gloe was originally a volunteer nurse and worked her way up to full-time.
Both women were given momentos to honor their time with the schools.