Made it just in time

It was close, but the paving project at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn High School was substantially completed as classes were about to begin.

Engineer John Hight, of Beck Engineering, told the school board on Monday that barricades would be taken down and the parking lot would be open for use. Striping for parking spaces is scheduled to be done later this week.

The area of the circle drive in front of the high school that was torn up has also been cleared for use.

Testing of the concrete indicates the pours were successful.

"We feel positive about how that's going and how it's been done," Hight said.

The next phase to be completed is the high school ballfield improvements. They include new dugouts for both diamonds, new batting cages and bullpens, and concrete backstops. New bleachers will be installed at the baseball diamond.

According to discussion, the three-week delay caused by the soil contamination issue will push back the completion dates for two

phases of the project. The final completion date for paving is in early September. The ball diamond project is to be completed by Oct. 23.

The board approved a payment request of $243,010 from Graves Construction.

• Nutrition expenditures

Discussion was held on how to lower H-M-S's Nutrition Fund cash balance.

"We've been carrying a high balance for quite a while," Superintendent Patrick Carlin noted.

According to the cash summary for July, the Nutrition Fund balance was $273,791 in 2021 and is now $464,630. The balance has grown despite the purchase of some equipment and an $110,000 transfer to the General Fund for payroll liability.

Carlin suggested using part of the balance to cover breakfast, milk and/or lunch costs for all H-M-S students. He said the breakfast option was "a simple one" that could be implemented immediately. If the district were to cover student lunches, that would not go into effect until October and would be for a shorter period of time.

Board Member Ryan Haack said the breakfast option was "a no-brainer" because the meal has been shown to benefit student performance in school. He was neutral on whether the district should cover lunch prices, but felt the overall goal was a good one.

"This is exactly why parents send their kids to H-M-S. We are supporting kids in a meaningful way," he commented.

Board President Scott Vollink suggested the district offer the breakfast and milk option first and evaluate it. The board could later consider whether to cover student lunches.

The board unanimously agreed to cover the costs of breakfast and milk for PK-12 students for the entire school year.

• Head Start rent, staffing

The board approved renewing the contract with Head Start for classroom space at H-M-S Elementary. Carlin recommended increasing the rental from $500 per month, which it has been for several years, to $625.

The district is eligible for funding through Medicaid which will be used to fund some of its special education costs.

Lesly Divas De Ventura will facilitate the high school Spanish class. She has been an associate at the middle school. Contracts were also offered to Michelle Essing, associate; Ava Reitsma, part-time middle school associate; and Russ Spier, middle school assistant football coach.

Resignations were accepted from associates Angela Juarez and Kim LeClair.