SCOTT CITY SCHOOL BOARD OKs PURCHASE; REORGANIZED BOARD MEETS FOR FIRST TIME, CHOOSES ITS OFFICERS

SCOTT CITY -- After tending to the administrative duties of swearing in its newly-elected members, the Scott City Board of Education approved a measure to purchase a new sound system for the high school gymnasium.

At the start of the meeting, Gale Dale, Cathy Raines and Ray Smith were sworn in as members of the board after winning the board seats in Tuesday's election.

Dale is starting her third term; Raines and Smith are new to the board.

"We are making history tonight," said Superintendent Bob Brison. "This is the first time in the state of Missouri that seven members have set the school board."

After the new members were sworn in, the board elected its officers for the coming term.

Gale Dale was re-elected president; Robert Wadlington, vice-president; Kevin Hillemann, secretary; and Tom Anderson, treasurer.

"You'll be sorry about this," Hillemann joked after he was nominated.

"This means (Hillemann) will have to take the notes now," Dale quipped.

"As I said, you'll be sorry," he returned.

After the technicalities were taken care of, the new board got down to business. It approved $11,624.30 to purchase a sound system to replace the ailing system.

The members were all in agreement that the purchase was absolutely necessary.

"Last year at graduation, you couldn't hear anything," Wadlington said.

The new system will consist of two, high-fidelity, 1500-watt speakers situated on both sides of the stage area of the gymnasium, microphones and a control board.

"After we get this thing, are we going to have anyone who knows how to work it?" asked Anderson.

Brison assured the board that the new equipment will not only be more than adequate for the school's needs, but will also be perfectly understandable.

Future renovations, such as re-insulating window panels and placing sound-absorbing materials along the rafters, will also bolster the effectiveness of the new system, Brison said.

"I just hope it works," Wadlington said.

"We're not going to pay them until we're sure it does," Anderson returned.

The system will be purchased from and installed by Amtelex Inc., and is expected to be operational by the Scott City High School graduation commencement in June.

The board also discussed the upcoming renovations of the gymnasium floor. Brison told the board members that the new floor will be built atop the old one, resulting in a 2-inch rise in the floor level.

"The architect said that they will place a vapor barrier over the old floor, lay a layer of insulation, cover that with three-quarter-inch plywood, and then lay the floor surface on top of that," Brison said.

"Which means that there will be a 2-inch step up from the cafeteria level to the gymnasium."

To make the floor handicapped-accessible, a ramp will be built by the lobby entrance to the gym.