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Hamilton School District to bond for four construction projects
Selects Starr as school board member
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
HAMILTON, Ill. – Hamilton School District will sell up to $625,000 in Life Safety bonds for its four construction projects this summer.
The board also appointed its seventh board member Wednesday. No one ran in the April election to fill Rusty Dowdall’s seat on the board when he stepped down.
Two candidates, Joe Coulter and Matthew Starr, were interviewed in closed session after the public meeting.
Starr, a 1998 Hamilton High School graduate, was selected to fill the vacancy for two years until the next school board election. His father, Ron Starr, served on the Hamilton School Board for several years.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Jackson updated the board on the district’s construction projects.
“We’re making decisions on tiles and colors,” he said. “I’ll get the bonds started immediately. We’re working to have everything in place for contractors to be in the building on the (May) 28th. The science labs have been packed up.”
Board president Mark Menn said the board should decide about replacing the ceiling in the high school science labs during renovation this summer.
“A new ceiling wasn’t included in the bids,” said Menn.
Board member Doug Summers said putting back the old ceiling would be difficult.
Menn, board member Jerrod Leffler and Jackson met with the contractor and architect to discuss the ceilings and the floor tiles in the science rooms.
The floor has small amounts of asbestos in the tiles and more in the mastic (glue). Maintenance director Steve Schlatter said that taking up the floors will not require critical barriers and special breathing apparatus. The contractor will be certified to work with asbestos.
“From my perspective, having a new lab with an old ceiling won’t look right,” said Jackson.
The board approved installing new ceilings in the science labs.
Principal Ron Gilbert said cabinets and fixtures coming out of the high school science labs will be reused in the junior high.
“We’ll use the ones in good shape and put them in the junior high science rooms,” he said.
In other business, the board approved:
n Amending the district tax levy estimated assessed value from $58 million to $62.5 million.
“I had a call from Kerry Asbridge (Hancock County clerk) that the district’s valuation has shot up,” said Jackson. “If we don’t set the higher amount, we can’t collect on it. Each $1 million increase in valuation brings the district another $11,000.”
Menn added that if the school district doesn’t adjust the tax levy valuation and does not levy on the right amount, the state would penalize the district and send less state aid.
“We have no control over the assessed valuation,” said Menn.
n The school district, Hamilton Park District and Little League will split the Little League lights bill at the football field three ways. Each entity will pay $500.
n The low bid of $84,176 for an annual premium on liability insurance from R.W. Troxell. Two other bids were close, at $85,797 and $88,204.
“Our liability insurance costs have gone up,” said Jackson. “We had five or six worker’s compensation claims this year. We’re putting in a variety of safety mechanisms and we’ll track the outcome of accidents and claims. The company has even been here to give some training.”
n The only bid for employee health insurance, from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
“Our costs have gone up 9 percent because of substantial health claims this year,” said Jackson.
Employee benefits are not predictable, said Jackson. The annual budget is made knowing salaries and other fixed expenses, but the costs of benefits have been increasing quickly.
“That’s an area we’ll continue to take a hard look at,” said Menn.
n The 2009-2010 school calendar with an amendment recommended by sixth grade teacher Kelly Celania.
She asked the board to reconsider the days off for spring break. The original calendar for next year schedules no school on the Thursday and Friday before Easter and returning to school on Monday.
“We’ve always had Monday off,” said Celania. “If we can only take two days off, teachers would prefer Friday and Monday off instead of Thursday and Friday.”
The board agreed to schedule three days off, Thursday, Friday and Monday, for spring break 2010.
n Jackson said the board is considering using random drug testing for district staff.
“It’s something we’ve been kicking around. A lot of companies do this,” he said. “We’re taking a look at it. We’d have to negotiate it with the unions.”
The board met for the first time in Safford Auditorium Wednesday, the new location for monthly school board meetings.
Also, the meetings and graduations are now streamed live on the district’s Web site www.hhs.328.com.
Viewers can enter the Web site and click on live video that is just below the scrolling marquee, said Gilbert. The video will not be stored to look at a later time.
The board also appointed its seventh board member Wednesday. No one ran in the April election to fill Rusty Dowdall’s seat on the board when he stepped down.
Two candidates, Joe Coulter and Matthew Starr, were interviewed in closed session after the public meeting.
Starr, a 1998 Hamilton High School graduate, was selected to fill the vacancy for two years until the next school board election. His father, Ron Starr, served on the Hamilton School Board for several years.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Jackson updated the board on the district’s construction projects.
“We’re making decisions on tiles and colors,” he said. “I’ll get the bonds started immediately. We’re working to have everything in place for contractors to be in the building on the (May) 28th. The science labs have been packed up.”
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“A new ceiling wasn’t included in the bids,” said Menn.
Board member Doug Summers said putting back the old ceiling would be difficult.
Menn, board member Jerrod Leffler and Jackson met with the contractor and architect to discuss the ceilings and the floor tiles in the science rooms.
The floor has small amounts of asbestos in the tiles and more in the mastic (glue). Maintenance director Steve Schlatter said that taking up the floors will not require critical barriers and special breathing apparatus. The contractor will be certified to work with asbestos.
“From my perspective, having a new lab with an old ceiling won’t look right,” said Jackson.
The board approved installing new ceilings in the science labs.
Principal Ron Gilbert said cabinets and fixtures coming out of the high school science labs will be reused in the junior high.
“We’ll use the ones in good shape and put them in the junior high science rooms,” he said.
In other business, the board approved:
n Amending the district tax levy estimated assessed value from $58 million to $62.5 million.
“I had a call from Kerry Asbridge (Hancock County clerk) that the district’s valuation has shot up,” said Jackson. “If we don’t set the higher amount, we can’t collect on it. Each $1 million increase in valuation brings the district another $11,000.”
Menn added that if the school district doesn’t adjust the tax levy valuation and does not levy on the right amount, the state would penalize the district and send less state aid.
“We have no control over the assessed valuation,” said Menn.
n The school district, Hamilton Park District and Little League will split the Little League lights bill at the football field three ways. Each entity will pay $500.
n The low bid of $84,176 for an annual premium on liability insurance from R.W. Troxell. Two other bids were close, at $85,797 and $88,204.
“Our liability insurance costs have gone up,” said Jackson. “We had five or six worker’s compensation claims this year. We’re putting in a variety of safety mechanisms and we’ll track the outcome of accidents and claims. The company has even been here to give some training.”
n The only bid for employee health insurance, from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
“Our costs have gone up 9 percent because of substantial health claims this year,” said Jackson.
Employee benefits are not predictable, said Jackson. The annual budget is made knowing salaries and other fixed expenses, but the costs of benefits have been increasing quickly.
“That’s an area we’ll continue to take a hard look at,” said Menn.
n The 2009-2010 school calendar with an amendment recommended by sixth grade teacher Kelly Celania.
She asked the board to reconsider the days off for spring break. The original calendar for next year schedules no school on the Thursday and Friday before Easter and returning to school on Monday.
“We’ve always had Monday off,” said Celania. “If we can only take two days off, teachers would prefer Friday and Monday off instead of Thursday and Friday.”
The board agreed to schedule three days off, Thursday, Friday and Monday, for spring break 2010.
n Jackson said the board is considering using random drug testing for district staff.
“It’s something we’ve been kicking around. A lot of companies do this,” he said. “We’re taking a look at it. We’d have to negotiate it with the unions.”
The board met for the first time in Safford Auditorium Wednesday, the new location for monthly school board meetings.
Also, the meetings and graduations are now streamed live on the district’s Web site www.hhs.328.com.
Viewers can enter the Web site and click on live video that is just below the scrolling marquee, said Gilbert. The video will not be stored to look at a later time.
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