Cape school district slated to hire oversight on bond projects

As the Cape Girardeau School District moves forward with projects funded by a $20 million bond issue, the school board today will vote whether to select a project consultant.

District officials are recommending Jerry Wolsey Investigations provide oversight of the bond projects, according to an agenda for the 6 p.m. meeting.

The services would include prevailing wage notifications, prevailing wage oversight, certified payroll review, Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance, background checks, internal investigations and job site safety.

Compensation for the services would be $1,250 a month for a maximum of two years, according to the district.

"Basically, we would hire him as an independent consultant to help oversee the projects as we move forward on the bond issue," said superintendent Jim Welker.

The bond issue for districtwide projects was approved by voters during the April 7 election.

The board also will consider adding seventh- and eighth-grade baseball and softball programs, beginning the 2015-2016 school year.

Officials said baseball and softball at the junior-high level would provide students additional opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities.

Numerous schools in the region in Missouri and Illinois offer seventh- and eighth-grade baseball and softball programs, officials said.

The total cost for implementation of the two programs in the first year is about $22,000, according to the district. The cost for subsequent years would be less as uniforms and equipment are placed on a routine maintenance and replacement schedule.

Welker said the school already has a baseball field and batting cages because it used to be the high school.

"If we approve (the programs) now, then we'll be able to set up the schedules for the games for next year," he said. "We may be too late to get softball started this fall, but what we may do is go ahead and start baseball next spring and look at starting softball the following fall."

klamb@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

301 Clark St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.