Financing of building projects reaches final stages

The final sale of general obligation bonds to finance facilities construction and improvements is scheduled to be completed during the March 15 meeting of the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn school board.

A resolution approving the process of selling $460,000 in bonds was approved on Feb. 17. The sale would complete the issuance of $18.9 million in bonds authorized by voters in 2018 to finance construction of new elementary and middle schools and renovations of the high school. The district is hoping interest rates on the bonds will be advantageous.

"We are hoping to have a rate under 1 percent. That is what we're hoping for," said Superintendent Patrick Carlin.

Board members also approved an underwriting agreement with Piper Sandler to oversee the bond sale.

H-M-S also intends to refinance previously-issued school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue refunding bonds. That sale is also scheduled for March 15. Bonds totaling $4,165,000 were originally issued in 2019 and are repaid with SAVE revenues.

• Construction update

Rooftop HVAC units are in place at the new middle school in Sanborn and drywall installation is progressing, according to Mark Pfister, of Boyd Jones. Current progress is pointing toward completion by the start of the 2021-22 school year.

"They are plugging along," Pfister said. "The month of March is when finishes start happening and racing toward summer for completion."

Board members expressed concerns with the performance of HVAC equipment in the elementary and high school buildings. According to Pfister, those issues became more prevalent during the extreme temperatures earlier in the month.

Board President Scott Heetland said the situation has been ongoing throughout the school year and suggested the warranties on that equipment should be extended after the units are working properly.

Pfister said meetings have been held with representatives of the vendor and contractor, who indicated they want to correct the problems.

• Draft calendar reviewed

A proposed calendar for 2021-22 was reviewed during the meeting. Carlin said the calendar committee designated Dec. 22 as a vacation day so the first semester would end on the first Friday in January. They also rescheduled the spring conference comp day and a professional development day normally held at the end of the year to the week when high school students are participating in the music trip to Nashville.

"I thought those were nice suggestions to help our students," Carlin said.

Board Vice President Scott Vollink asked if the Dec. 22 date could be designated as a snow day. Carlin said the committee could discuss that and make a recommendation when the calendar is approved in March.

Board Member Ryan Haack questioned whether it would be better for the first semester to end prior to the holiday break. High school Principal Nate Hemiller said a survey indicates "it's probably 50/50 with schools that end the semester before or after Christmas."

The first semester ends in January so there is an even split to the school year and to provide high school students who struggle with completing work with an opportunity to do so during the break. Hemiller added that to end first semester before the holidays results in "a really long" second semester.

• Accept donation, approve resolutions

A donation of two benches by Stephen Litts in memory of Dorothy Litts was accepted. The building committee will decide where the benches are placed.

Carlin said Litts was willing to donate funds for other needs, but the benches had already been made when he was consulted following the January board meeting. A plaque will indicate the benches were presented in memory of Dorothy.

The resignation of Cheryl Kroese as assistant middle school track coach was accepted. She was offered a contract to fill the position of high school girls' golf coach. Kristin Triplett will serve as middle school track coach.

The board also adopted the budget guarantee resolution for 2021-22. The resolution qualifies H-M-S for the regular program budget adjustment if it qualifies under the state funding formula.