Board signs off on elementary partitions, discusses propane and HVAC bids and approves $5 adult meal price

The Newburg R-II Board of Education approved facility and fee changes and discussed multiple vendor bids at its regular meeting.

Procurement and fuel: S2 reviewed propane vendor quotes. Chilton submitted a fixed-price quote of $1.5138 per gallon for a July 1–June 1 contract covering 27,000 gallons, with a free initial inspection and $85 per hour for related service work; transcript notes that MFA had a locked price figure reported as roughly $1.389 (spelled in transcript as "dollar 38.9"), and trustees debated the tradeoff between lower price and service reliability. S2 warned market volatility may affect futures pricing and said staff could delay the decision if the board preferred to wait for more favorable market conditions. A motion to select a vendor was made on the record and seconded; the board approved (mover/second not named in the transcript).

Partitions and installations: For elementary restroom partitions, S2 reported a J & S quote of $12,350 (including install) while purchasing parts from Butler with separate install through BOW Construction was estimated around $12,854. Trustees discussed prior vendor experience and roughly two to three week lead times; a motion to proceed with the selected installer carried.

HVAC: Members considered two HVAC options—mini-split systems and full furnace replacement. Bids showed differing line-item treatments of labor and equipment; trustees asked staff to confirm whether quoted mini-split prices included labor and to verify unit sizes (3-ton/3.3-ton and efficiency ratings were discussed). Because the need for heat is not immediate, board members suggested holding final HVAC decisions until procurement clarifications are returned.

Adult meals: S2 reported that OPA raised adult meal pricing and proposed raising the district adult price to $5 (previously about $3.96). After discussion on revenue use, a motion to raise the adult meal price to $5 was made, seconded and approved; the board completed a roll call.

Handbook updates: S2 summarized proposed handbook changes affecting GPA thresholds and course weighting: honors threshold revised to 3.5, a 1.0 weight to specified seated advanced courses beginning with the class of 2028, and expanded language to allow random drug testing for students in extracurricular activities, trips and dances. S2 noted that consequences could be reduced if a student completed a drug- or alcohol-treatment program "at their own expense." The handbook remains a living document for trustee review with staff to return with clarifications and any attorney feedback.

Next steps: Staff will clarify bid line items (labor, unit size, inspection responsibility), finalize contractor selections and ensure any contract terms comply with Missouri codes, and return to the board with contract documents and implementation timelines.