New bathrooms, a storage area and locker rooms at the Salem R-80 football field will have to wait, as bids came in 20 percent higher than expected, superintendent John McColloch told the board Thursday night during its regular meeting.
“We will wait until October when contractors aren’t as busy, and rebid, see if we can get a better deal,” he said. “We could not go for a 20 percent increase.”
In other action, the board:
• heard from president Bernie Sirois that a committee organizing a second annual high school homecoming weekend has set Sept. 22-23 for the event. There will be a barbecue, alumni basketball game, golf tournament and other events during the weekend. It is also SHS’ annual football homecoming.
• set a tax rate hearing for 5:50 p.m. August 17, preceding the regular board meeting.
• awarded a transportation agreement for the Dent County preschool to Durham.
• passed a Chromebook policy and handbook, 7-0.
In his report on facilities, McColloch said the district has received one bid of $16,000 to replace deteriorating brick, some windows and tuckpointing at William Lynch Elementary. They have also received bids for HVAC above the band room at the high school.
A tech center for Chromebooks will be constructed in a portion of the high school library. All high school students will receive Chromebooks this fall.
Mobray’s Excavating is cleaning out the old garden area between the high school and middle school, with some landscaping being done to the area.
The board also approved bids for milk, bread, food and supply, fuel and pest control. Hiland Dairy was the sole bidder for milk; Bimbo was the low bidder for bread at 15 cents for hamburger buns, 13 cents for hot dog buns, 6 cents for whole grain bread and 20 cents for whole grain homies; US Foods was the low bidder for food and supply (58 items); County Fuels was the low bidder for diesel #2 at $1.906 per gallon and gasoline at $1.7745; Integrity Pest Control was the low bidder for pest controls $55.
