JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD OKs RENOVATIONS

JACKSON -- School renovation projects were among agenda items during a Jackson Board of Education meeting Tuesday night. Board members approved bids for four capital projects that will begin this summer.

More than $50,000 will be spent on improvements to the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School gymnasium. A bid of $21,909 was accepted from R.L. Jackson to replace bleachers, and a $30,096 bid from Martin Surfacing Inc. to replace the gym floor was accepted.

"After 35 years that room's ready for replacements," said Superintendent Dr. Howard Jones. He said district personnel will be in charge of peripheral projects, including painting the gym ceiling, replacing the lighting and demolishing old seating.

Bids for new carpeting in pod A at West Lane Elementary and a new maintenance delivery van for the district were also approved. S&S Interior won the contract to replace the carpeting with a bid of $3,850, and State Purchasing will supply the district with a 1997 Dodge cargo van for $14,035.

The board also approved a request from Foeste Masonry Inc. to waive a $1,830 penalty imposed by the Department of Labor for violating a prevailing wage law. Kenny and Judy Foeste told the board 12 masonry apprentices working on a contract for the district were paid $2.35 per hour less than they should have received due to erroneous information from a union representative.

After an investigation by the Department of Labor, restitution was paid to the apprentices. But state law requires an assessed penalty of $10 per day for every day the business worked on the project, an amount totaling $1,830.

"The business agent basically gave them erroneous information," said Randy Plaggenburg, a representative from the Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division who also attended the meeting. "They've come to you to ask for a waiver. It's not in the law, but we require either a waiver or restitution of the penalty."

In other business, board members approved applications for two 20 percent match-grant proposals for computer equipment and gave the go-ahead for Jones to organize a committee to collect information about refurbishing the high school auditorium.

JACKSON BOARD OF EDUCATION

ACTION ITEMS:

-- Approved addition of elective class "Intro. to Business" at Junior High.

-- Accepted bid from Colonial for Section 125 flexible plan for 1997-98.

-- Accepted bid from Boatmen's Bank for depository for school funds through the year 2000.

-- Accepted request from Foeste Masonry to waive penalty imposed by Department of Labor.

-- Approved bids for summer capital projects/expenditures.

Replacement of bleachers at Junior High.

Replacement of gym floor at Junior High.

Replacement of carpeting at West Lane Elementary.

Replacement of maintenance delivery van.

-- Approved program to refurbish the High School auditorium.

-- Approved incentive grant proposals for Middle School.

-- Approve change order request at North Elementary.