Advance RIV awards bid for FEMA Safe Room bleachers, approves budget

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
MADELINEDEJOURNETTadvancensc@sbcglobal.net Students in Brett Raines' Vocational Education classes prepare the ground for the concrete work on the new Advance Vo Ag building.

The Advance RIV Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, Nov. 11, 2015, with all members present.

Three bids for bleachers were considered, and the contract was awarded to Heartland Seating of Olathe, KS, a company that has done bleachers for several area schools, including Chaffee and Dexter. The bid was $36,6084, midway between the other two bids.

"We did the research on the company and received very good reviews, so we followed the recommendation of our architect, Dille & Associates, and accepted Heartland Seating's bid," said Superintendent Stan Seiler. "The bleachers have an auto-folding handrail, which doesn't have to be removed by hand, when the bleachers are folded up."

The contract has been signed for the FEMA Safe Room, and Sides Construction will be on site this week. The City of Advance will also be working to provide a construction road from Garrett St. to the school campus, bypassing the public road for better traffic safety.

Tentative completion date for the safe room is June or July of 2016.

Work is also progressing on the new Vo Ag room. Vo Ag teacher Brett Raines is currently using his students to help with the concrete work.

Board members approved the minutes of the previous meeting and voted to pay the bills.

The Superintendent's report indicated an October enrollment of 426 with an attendance of 96.74 percent for the year. The Professional Development Committee has met twice and will hold its third meeting on Friday at Meadow Heights, one of the two other schools which is collaborating with Advance on this project.

Seiler informed the board that the APR (Annual Progress Report) is out, and Advance RIV went up from 7th place to 2nd place among local school districts. Only Richland Schools were higher.

Principals' reports revealed that the AHS History Club is hosting a Veteran's Day breakfast and ceremony in the gym Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. Time for the assembly is 10 a.m.

James Hamlin, elementary principal, reported that all the work has been done to receive full licensing on the new pre-school facility in the Industrial Park.

"We passed all the tests by Oct. 25," Hamlin said. "This was part of our grant process."

Hamlin also reported a 94 percent parental conferencing during the open house held earlier in the year. He also indicated that 70 percent of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students made the honor roll.

High School Principal Shana Kight reported that the Friday, Nov. 6 "Daddy/Daughter dance," sponsored by the AHS FBLA and Senior Beta Club was a success.

Handing out her monthly newsletter, Kight noted that two students--Cade Long and Gage Bien--earned a place at this year's State Cross Country Meet in Jefferson City.

The board heard MSIP reports on Operation of the School Plant, District's Special Services, and District's Library/Media Services.

Dates were set for the filing of candidates for the School Board Election: First date of filing--Dec. 15, 2015 at 8 a.m. Last date for filing--Jan. 19, 2016 at 5 p.m. Hiram Jones and David Kennedy are up for re-election.

Julie Delay was approved as "Acting Secretary of the Board" for filing purposes.

The board approved updates to 10 board policies, rescinding two.

In the last order of business, Stan Seiler went over the budget with the board, emphasizing that it was always preliminary and would have to be revised in June, based on all the many different forms of revenue coming into the district. The board approved the budget, and paper copies will be distributed in the teacher work stations and throughout the community. Board member Tom Schmidt said he saw one at the post office. The budget will also be on the school website at www.advance.k12.mo.us.

Current balances for the Advance RIV District are at 42 percent, which is very good.

Three parents were present at the meeting to deliver a statement requesting that the Green Bear Club be allowed to come on campus to offer child abuse prevention programs provided by the Beacon of Health Center of Cape Girardeau. The board agreed and allowed brief statements from the group concerning an off-campus student issue that could not be discussed in open session.

The board then went into closed session as per RSMo 610.021-610.023.

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