Board to consider action on no in-town busing

"The board told me to recoup the $52,000 that it cut from my budget. I had to have 300 paying, (not free-and-reduced), students and parents to recoup that budget cut which happened in February," Julie Nemmers explained. "So, if school board members stick firm to that, then we don't have enough interest to do (discretionary busing in 2009-10)."

Nemmers said she'd averaged at least three dozen telephone calls a day since a June 1 letter explaining the alternative busing option was mailed to district patrons.

The Spencer school district's transportation director also reported that Le Mars schools currently offer discretionary busing for a fee. Storm Lake district representatives, who are currently discussing the matter, have not yet made a decision. According to a source Nemmers has visited with, 2009-10 may mark Cherokee's last year for providing the busing service to district families there.

"I do know that where I'm from in northeast Iowa, the only kids who ride the bus are country kids. They don't bus in-town," Nemmers said. "Something that sticks in my mind is one of my bus drivers saying, 'Riding the bus is a privilege. It's not a right.' That's what this is about. It's not the Spencer school board or me making this call; the state of Iowa has said if you live within two miles of your building, we don't have to transport you.

"And, the district would save $52,000 by cutting discretionary busing. There isn't money to bring it back without having the parents pay for the service. It's a courtesy that's been provided at no charge."

Spencer school board president David Schlichtemeier, meanwhile, has suggested there may be another possibility to consider.

"We had looked at the ($175) per child fee to replace what we did last year. But if we're going to do somewhat less busing, (such as looping between the district's school buildings, it could be cheaper," he said. " ... Julie and (Superintendent Greg Ebeling) were going to put those numbers together to see what the savings with that really would be. But, whatever that loop cost is would still have to be borne by the folks using it. If that alternative works, then we can offer the community that option."

"The only way that I can offer alternates is if the board authorizes me to offer discretionary busing without having 300 paying students," Nemmers replied. "It's been brought up that we need a building-to-building (busing service), but last year we transported probably 500 kids, which is going to take at least four buses. If you bring those four in-town routes that were cut in February back to do building-to-building, you've defeated the purpose of the cut.

"I don't have authority to make that call. All I can do is give the board the information that I've gathered and let it make the call."

She then encouraged, "If you're willing to pay the $1 a day fee proposed, and you didn't get your form in by Friday, give me a call, email me or get a form in. Because I could still get it to the board when it meets again on June 30."

Old SMS first floor to be remodeled

Spencer school board members have approved the awarding of $854,444 in bids to remodel the old Spencer Middle School's first floor into a space for the Spencer Area Activity Center.

The $204,414 and $98,030 bid packages assigned to Schelling Construction would authorize the Sioux Center team of designers and builders to general construction tasks, as well as the building's interior framing, drywall and painting work. A $395,600 bid package awarded to Midwestern Mechanical of Spencer will cover the future senior center's new plumbing, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Another $156,400 bid package was awarded Friday morning to NAI Electrical Contractors, known as Nikkel & Associates of Ames, to serve as the project's electrical contractor.

Board members have already approved the hiring of Henkel Construction to serve as a construction manager at the old SMS building. The company is currently working on site for Community Housing Initiatives, which is creating housing units on the building's second and third floors.

The board signed an agreement in March for Henkel Construction to also work on behalf of the district on the building's proposed first floor improvements. It was reported during Friday's special board session that the majority of the companies awarded bids for work on the Spencer Area Activity Center's anticipated first floor home are already working on site with Henkel Construction.

The Spencer Area Activity Center is anticipated to move into the former school building's first floor area once these improvements are made. Hopes are to finish both renovation projects by either December or January 2010.

In addition to $102,097 awarded to Cannon Moss Brygger & Associates for its work and reimbursable items associated with the project, board members heard from Rick Dean of the firm's Spencer office that there is also a grant pending for historic preservation.

"That, in turn, drives certain types of finishes and electrical light fixtures in the project," he said. "We took an alternate to go to a more conventional way (of lighting) if the grant doesn't come."

* Kruse, Cate and Nelson engineer Jim Thiesse also told board members to expect about $13,000 in change orders on the Lincoln School parking lot project to be presented during their upcoming June 30 meeting.