3 VACANCIES ON JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD

JACKSON -- There will be three vacancies to be filled in the April Jackson R-2 school board election. The third vacancy occurred Tuesday, when board member Nancy Shafer resigned, effective today.

Schafer, who was elected to the board in April 1988, is moving this month to pastor a church in St. Louis. She has been pastor of Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville.

Schafer's job as board treasurer was filled by the appointment board member, Darrell Hanschen.

School Superintendent Wayne Maupin said an election notice will be published in the next few days to fill Schafer's one-year, unexpired term.

The 3-year terms of incumbents Jack Knowlan Jr., and Board President Larry Koenig will also expire in April. Knowlan has filed for another term. Koenig said Tuesday he will probably make a decision before the end of the week.

In other business, the board approved two changes in the high school curriculum for the 1991-92 school year. They include the addition of Computers 1 and Computers 2. An eight-member committee is now working on the final plans for the two new courses. No increase in staff will be required.

High school principal, Vernon Huck, told the board Computers 1 will be an entry course, while Computers 2 will require students to complete Computers 1 as a prerequisite.

Changes were also made in the high school physical education curriculum as a result of additional space with the completion of the new multi-purpose gym.

The board accepted bids on five school buses, two 66-passenger buses, and three 78-passenger buses.

The low bid of $11,306 for the two 66-passenger Bluebird bus bodies was submitted by Rustman Bus Co. of Cape. The low bid of $47,197.88 for the two International truck chassis on which the bus bodies will be mounted was submitted by Cooney Equipment Co. of Sikeston. The total price for the two 66-passenger buses is $58,503.88

The low bid for the three 78-passenger school buses was $113,381, and was also submitted by Rustman Bus Co. The bid price includes Bluebird bus bodies and truck chassis. The prices include trade-ins on the five school buses being retired from the fleet.

Business Manager Howard Alexander said the district paid $24,269 last year for a 66-passenger bus, compared to $29,258 this year. The cost of a 78-passenger bus last year was $35,400 compared to $37,700 this year.

As an information item, the superintendent discussed the district's proposed capital improvements plan for 1991-92. Much of the work centers on improvements to the high school gymnasium. The administration will have a prioritized list of projects for the board to consider at its Jan. 22 meeting.

"Money is a major factor," said Maupin. "The list could have been 10 pages long. It's a small list, and it could be smaller in two weeks."

Maupin also reported the district has missed eight days of school because of bad weather and the early-December earthquake closing. As result, the fall semester will not end until Jan. 18.

He noted the most days ever missed because of weather was 18.