Board approves construction contracts, equipment purchases; ratifies teacher agreement and denies three open-enrollment requests

The Lewis Central Comm School District Board of Directors on March 17 approved a series of facility contracts and equipment purchases, ratified a collective-bargaining agreement with district teachers and denied three open-enrollment requests after a closed-session review.

The board voted, by roll call, to approve specifications and RFPs for multiple projects and to award several contracts presented during the meeting. The actions included approvals related to high school and middle school roofing, parking-lot and traffic improvements, technology and vehicle purchases, and a district natural-gas risk-pool agreement. The board also ratified a two-year contract with the Lewis Central Education Association that includes a 2.6% raise for the covered years and other schedule changes. After a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(a), the board denied three open-enrollment requests citing an inability to meet the students’ individualized education program (IEP) needs as presented in closed session.

Votes at a glance (motions and outcomes recorded at the March 17 meeting):

- Approved: High school roof specifications and RFP as presented. (Motion made and seconded; roll-call approval.) - Approved: High school parking lot specifications as presented (RFP to proceed; bids due April 4). - Approved: High school tennis court specifications as presented (projected six courts; drainage included). - Approved: Titan Hill parking-lot replacement and additional queuing lane specifications as presented. - Approved: Middle school (Bridal/middle school) roof specifications and RFP as presented. - Awarded contract: Middle school roof to JR Roofing for $143,744 (lowest responsible bidder; board motion approved by roll call). - Awarded contract: High school fire-alarm replacement to Total Fire and Security Inc. for $260,770.31 (single responsive bid; approved by roll call). - Approved purchase: Used 12-passenger van from Edwards for the purchase price presented in the motion (recorded in meeting as $41,570; motion approved by roll call). - Awarded contract: Wireless access points to Riverside Technologies Inc. for $90,031.92 (E-rate-funded phase; board approval by roll call). - Approved: Participation agreement with the Local Government Risk Pool for a natural-gas purchasing plan in the amount of $214,414.10 (board approval by roll call). - Approved purchase: Two Stub Nose Bluebird buses from Scribe Bus Sales for a combined price of $343,128 (motion approved by roll call). - Ratified: Collective bargaining agreement with the Lewis Central Education Association (LCEA) covering two school years with a 2.6% flat raise for each year and other schedule adjustments; ratification carried by roll call. - Denied (closed session): Open-enrollment requests for Student A, Student B and Student C based on the board’s closed-session review that the district is unable to meet the students’ IEP requirements.

Each motion was decided by roll call; the transcript records the vote as an affirmative roll call for the trustees present. The formal motions and awards listed above were reflected in the meeting minutes and in contract documents the district will file under standard procurement procedures.

Board members present who participated in the roll-call votes: Miss Atkins; Missus Peterson; Missus Sheffel (listed in transcript as variants of the spelling); Mister Sorensen; Mister Sturm; Mister Wright.

Fiscal and administrative notes: Several approved projects are budgeted in the district’s construction and bond plans. Bids for the high school parking lot were noted as due April 4, with a bid review scheduled for the April 7 meeting. The ratified teacher agreement establishes base/lane placement language and a supplemental schedule adjustment; the district will circulate final contract documents to staff.