The Maries R-2 Board of Education set June 6 as the open house date during the April 27 meeting for any person who would like to walk through the Building Trades project house and offer bids.

“From what Andy (Gehlert, building trades teacher) told me, we set the open house date, and at the end of the open house, you open the sealed bids and make the determination that day,” said Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham.

Director Dawn Hicks said they usually set a minimum bid for the building trades house in closed session, put the house out for bid first, and open bids at the next school board meeting.

“You can do that however you want,” Basham said. “We just need to make sure we sell the house in the same year we built it — so we need to sell it by June 30

Hicks asked Basham when she wanted to open bids.

“On a Sunday after an open house,” she said. “I’d like June 6.”

The open house would be from 1 to 4 p.m. on June 6.

“We have tried to open bids at the open house, but the last time we didn’t have any bids,” Director Garret Bialczyk said.

“I think we are going to have several,” Basham countered.

Hicks said if they have bids, they will open them at that point.

“See, I think the time before, there wasn’t adequate planning for board members, so we didn’t have enough there,” said President Joey Butler II. “We had to open them at the regular meeting anyway.”

Basham said they will set the minimum bid in closed session at the May meeting. When they advertise the open house, they will also state when bids will be opened.

“Just to clarify, a few years ago it was thought the superintendent wanted everyone to be there all day and open at 4 p.m.,”Butler began.

“No, I have no reason to expect that,” Basham countered. “I need you to show up at 4-o’clock and give me 15 minutes.”

If the board wants to be a part of the bids, but can’t attend in person, they may video chat into the meeting.

The board approved the open house and rules with a 6-0 vote.

Basham also discussed a flooring issue at the Bland Middle School that the Gasconade County Health Department has given the district the remainder of the summer to fix.

“During a sanitation inspection, the Gasconade County Health Department found flooring outside the coolers at the middle school that are buckling and needs to be replaced,” Basham explained. “It has to be done this summer.”

The district has asked three companies to bid on the project. Of the three, only one company can meet the timeline.

“We would like to put the same type of flooring in the middle school as we put last year in the elementary cafeteria. It would be an epoxy fleck flooring,” Basham said.

The three companies that bid were DLT Flooring for $6,892; Rock Solid Custom Concrete did not bid the job as they were not available until October; and OCC Custom Flooring bid $8 a square foot, but were booked up until August.

“I recommend we go with DLT Flooring,” Basham said, adding it is the same company the district used before and they were happy with their work.

The board approved the motion with a 6-0 vote.

In other business, Basham asked the board to approve a policy change that would transfer powers of compliance officer from her to the special education director.

“Currently the compliance officer is the superintendent,” Basham explained. “But by making the compliance officer and superintendent the same person, you take away a student/parent/teacher’s right to appeal (a disciplinary decision) and it comes straight to you.”

Basham explained that in the instance that a situation arose, the principal of the building would investigate the case and make a disciplinary decision. A student/parent/teacher may contest the action or decision to the compliance officer. Under other circumstances, the case may be appealed to the superintendent and then the board. However, with the compliance officer and superintendent being the same person, that means that the chain of command would be the building principal first, then compliance officer/superintendent, and finally the board. It removes one step in the chain of command.

Butler asked if it would add workload to that person. Basham said it could, but not much. By changing the policy though it adds one more link in the chain.

Director Kenda Sanders made a motion to change the compliance officer from the superintendent to the special education director. It passed with a 6-0 vote.

Maintenance Director Tony Gieck has requested five students be hired for summer help and Technology Director Tony Benson is requesting two to three students for summer help.

The board approved with a 6-0 vote that the two could hire no more than eight students for summer help. 

Gieck also requested the following items be listed as surplus as they are no longer needed by the district. Items will be advertised on Facebook and in the newspaper as required by law. They include Bus 13, a 2006 IC 65 passenger bus with 225,076 miles; a John Deere 22 HP Kawasaki, 48 inch cut, no hood; a John Deere Z645, 27 HP zero turn mower; and a Toro 826 Snow Blower.