Ozark R-VI board approves playground, roof and stadium video board projects and several contracts

The Ozark R-VI School Board on Monday approved several large projects and district agreements, voting unanimously to move forward on an inclusive playground, campus roof work and a new stadium digital video board while also approving personnel and partnership items.

The meeting’s largest capital approval was for the Tiger Paw inclusive playground. Administration described an inclusive, ADA-focused RFP process that involved district staff, therapists and a Tiger Paw team that visited other districts. District staff recommended Miracle as the vendor after tabulating bids and revising the winning design with the Tiger Paw committee. "The final is $5,557,070, which puts us under budget by about a $142,930," the facilities presenter said, noting the bid covered front and back playground work and included an optional shade structure funded partly by PTA fundraising. The board voted to approve the contract and related options unanimously.

The board also approved a consolidated roofing contract after receiving multiple competitive bids for reroofing TPO membrane areas across campuses. Administration said combining projects produced material savings and would replace non‑metal roofs not covered by existing warranties. Trustees approved the recommended contractor and scope; administration said the total bid came in below the original multi‑year estimate.

On the Tiger Stadium video board, the board’s facilities committee reported on vendor site visits and a rubric that weighed reliability, technical support, brightness and warranty. Administration recommended Digital Scoreboard for a larger 19-by-35 board, noting higher technical support scores and remote-diagnostics capability. "When you look at references and reliability, that company stood out beyond everybody else," the presenter said. The board approved the recommendation unanimously and discussed the advertising/revenue potential of a district digital board.

Other approved items included a non-monetary memorandum of understanding with CoxHealth to streamline clinical placements and internships for certified medical assistant students (trustees removed or reworded a COVID-19 vaccine disclosure clause), a five‑year Coca‑Cola exclusive vending agreement that will route proceeds to activity accounts, a salary schedule reclassification for speech‑language pathologists beginning FY26 to better align with state classifications, and continuation of the district master’s cohort partnership with Evangel University.

Board members emphasized that personnel and program requests, including additional paid coaches raised during public comment, are being prioritized through the budgeting process. Administration repeatedly told the board the soccer‑coaches request is on a list of personnel requests to be evaluated during budget planning.

The board closed the meeting after approving the consent agenda and the above items; several votes were recorded as unanimous on the floor.

Votes at a glance: Tiger Paw playground — approved (vendor: Miracle; recommended total $5,557,070; motion passed unanimously). Roof replacement contract — approved (recommended low comprehensive bid; motion passed unanimously). Stadium video board — approved (recommended: Digital Scoreboard for 19x35 board; motion passed unanimously). CoxHealth MOU — approved (no money; vaccine language to be removed/reworded; motion passed unanimously). Coca‑Cola contract — approved (five‑year district agreement; motion passed unanimously). SLP salary reclassification — approved (move SLPs to updated schedule for FY26; motion passed unanimously). Master's cohort (Evangel University) — approved (agreement continued; motion passed unanimously).

The board directed staff to bring follow-up details and any required contract language back to the board as those items move toward implementation.