RENVOATION WORK TO BEGIN ON JACKSON HIGH'S AUDITORIUM

JACKSON -- School board members approved a bid for the first major renovation project in the Jackson High School auditorium during a meeting Tuesday.

The Jackson Board of Education approved a bid for $56,287 from Obermann & Sons Inc. to install six air conditioning units to cool the auditorium. The bid was the only one received for the project.

Schools superintendent Dr. Howard Jones said the bid was quite a bit higher than the $35,000 he originally projected for the project, but would provide a more efficient cooling system and help to preserve ornate fixtures in the auditorium, including bas-relief wall etchings.

"This is a bit higher than I originally estimated, but I believe the benefits of this system will save us in the future in terms of preserving some of the more unique aspects of the facility," Jones said.

Planning has been underway for more than a year to refurbish the 563-seat auditorium, built as part of a Works Projects Administration project in 1938. In January, school board members approved a two-phase plan to modernize and refurbish the auditorium while maintaining its original architectural features.

The estimated cost of the project is $146,000. Jones said a fund-raising committee is working to schedule events to fund the project. Members of the community also are being asked to donate the time, funding and equipment needed for the project.

In other business, board members approved a request from the mission church of Lynwood Baptist Church for use of North Elementary School for weekly services while planning and construction of a building is completed. The rental agreement is expected to last about three years, but will be reviewed as necessary by school and church officials.

Board members also heard a presentation from high school administrators and law enforcement officers regarding the possibility of starting a School Resource Officer program in the school district. Principal Rick McClard is working with Jackson and Cape Girardeau police officers to write a grant to fund the program.