VIENNA — Maries R-1 School Board directors Nov. 28 gave approved for spending $9,317 to replace fire alarms.

Superintendent Teresa Messersmith told the board that a technician recommended the replacement after the alarm started experiencing problems and giving false alarms. The technician found that the alarm’s processing board no longer worked. Sometimes electrical surges cause issues with the boards.

Board member Matt Novak asked if the school could order a surge protector to go along with the new fire alarm from Siemens. Messersmith said she could ask about a surge protector.

The board approved the replacement and asked Messersmith to include a surge protector in the purchase if the cost was less than the minimum amount required for the board to approve the purchase.

Messersmith told the board about a recent meeting of the district’s facilities committee. The committee had recommended adding roofs, lockers and windows to the district’s facility inventory to track their conditions over time.

The committee also discussed facility priorities for the district. Priorities included the elementary school restrooms, air conditioning in the high school and the elementary gym and replacement of the cafeteria boiler, which the district got in 1969. Other possible projects include replacements of some of the exterior doors and windows and accessibility improvements to the sidewalk.

Later in the meeting, the board discussed pay for teachers who cover other classes during their plan times and pay for people who work during games as gatekeepers, bookkeepers or scorekeepers. The compensation was $10 per class period or $10 per game.

Messersmith asked if the district could increase both pay rates to $15. The board approved the pay increase.

The board also discussed changing the date of graduation to avoid having it on Mother’s Day. After some discussion, board members voted to approve a switch to the Saturday of that weekend. Later, they discovered a conflict and had to change the date back. Graduation is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 in the high school gym.

Also during the meeting, the board selected a name for the bond the district will pursue on the April 2024 ballot. The board picked the name “Proposition K.I.D.S. (Keep Improving District Schools).”

If the bond passes, plans include improvements to the boilers, air conditioning, restrooms and more. A vote on the final draft of the resolution will occur at the Dec. 19 meeting.

At the Nov. 28 meeting, the board also approved Tim Simmons as an addition to the substitute list.