VIENNA — The Maries R-1 Board of Education at its Nov. 26 meeting accepted bids for repairs to the high school gym roof.

Superintendent Teresa Messersmith said that the cost of the bids met the district’s $150,000 estimate for flashing and tuckpointing the gym roof. Alexander’s Construction will handle the flashing for $28,257.80, and T&J’s Restoration will do the tuckpointing for $122,263.40.

The ag shop roof is also in need of repair. Messersmith said she expected the district would have money left from the bond to pay for renovations. The board will evaluate a proposal and consider the remaining funds from the bond before making a decision about replacing the roof.

The board spoke with employees of L.J. Hart & Company, the firm underwriting the district’s $2 million bond passed earlier this year. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a parameter resolution and draft an underwriting agreement.

L.J. Hart Assistant Vice President Neil Branham said the district could potentially refund some of its previous bonds and save money. The bond passed in 2020 was partially sold above market rate, which created about $366,000 extra for the school’s projects. The bonds will become callable in March 2025, so the district now has the option to refund the bonds. The market is now lower than what the bonds were at issuance, so saving money is a possibility.

Branham reviewed a resolution that would create a committee of the superintendent, school board president and L.J. Hart president to oversee the parameters when the company finds investors. The board approved the resolution, which allows L.J. Hart to seek investors beginning in the next few weeks. The issuance and delivery are not to exceed the $1.78 million value of the 2020 bonds.

Later, Messersmith informed the board about an interest increase to the district’s bond account. After speaking with The Maries County Bank about options, the interest rate rose from 0.1 percent to an unfixed 3.75 percent. The rate will change monthly as the Federal Reserve changes deposit rates. Messersmith said the district appreciated the bank’s support for the school’s financial needs.

The district’s insurance rate with the Missouri United School Insurance Council (MUSIC) will increase by 38 percent this year. Last year, the district paid $75,973 in premiums, and this year’s invoice totaled $104,624. Although the budget anticipated an increase, the new rate will put the district $9,545 over budget.

Messersmith said MUSIC told her the value remains below industry standards, and the reasons for increasing the rate included a lack of competitive bids, rising construction and labor costs and weather damage costs.

The board also reviewed summer school finances. The estimated revenues were $165,830, and the estimated expenditures were $155,928 for curriculum, salaries, transportation, food services and any other expenses. The revenue resulted in a $9,902 surplus.

The board approved the district’s updated transportation plan. Messersmith said one of the changes she made was to the goal length for bus routes.

Previously, the district’s target length was 60 minutes. However, over the last few years, the district has lost two bus drivers without finding replacements, which has dropped the number of bus routes from seven to five while lengthening the remaining routes. The district continues to actively search for a bus driver to add at least one more route.

The new transportation plan aligns Maries R-1’s goal with the state’s recommended 75-minute maximum bus route length. The plan also notes that the district is not always able to meet its goals to eliminate possible confusion that the goals are absolute.

The board also voted to add Kristen Smith to the substitute list.

Filing opened on Tuesday for the April 2025 election, which includes two school board seats currently held by President Dave Long and Jake Hallahan. Dec. 31 is the last day to file. The administrative office will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. that afternoon.