SJSD focuses on construction projects at Monday board meeting
By Jazmine Knight
The St. Joseph School Board had their hands full as they hosted several scheduled meetings on Oct. 28
On the agenda, the board voted on multiple actions regarding various construction projects and policy changes.
The board selected DLR Group as their architectural firm for the proposed construction of a new high school. As previously reported, the board received proposals from three firms, including DLR Group, Ellison-Auxier and Goldberg Group Architects.
“It’s our first major step in the long range plan towards building a new high school. And so it was really, really exciting,” said LaTonya Williams, school board president.
Williams said it was important to choose a local firm that was rich in St. Joseph history. DLR Group has previous experience working with the district on projects at Hillyard Technical Center and other district buildings.
Next on the agenda was a change to the Jerre Cooper Elementary Scholarship. Due to the lack of applicants in the last two years, the district has changed the criteria for the scholarship. Previously, the scholarship required applicants to be elementary education majors and contained strict ACT requirements. Now, thanks to the approval by the board, the scholarship will now be open to all education majors and will focus more on GPA requirements instead of the ACT. This decision is justified by the shift of many colleges and universities to remove ACT requirements for admissions.
“I think it will open up an opportunity in order to give our students more of a chance in order to obtain scholarships,” Williams said.
At Carden Park Elementary, the board decided to approve a new road aimed to make pick-up and drop-off access easier for parents. The new road would lead from the upper parking lot and exit onto 16th Street for $311,820.
Williams, who had previously visited the school during drop off times, has seen the congestion of the cars and buses. She believes this new road will provide necessary efficiency for parents and bus drivers.
“A cool thing is that it will give the buses a new outlet,” she said.
The circulation project at Carden Park is expected to start immediately and will take approximately eight weeks to complete. Officials do not anticipate the project disrupting the normal flow of traffic around the school.
Also on the agenda was a change order for the Hillyard Technical Center expansion. This includes a removable guard rail for $1,894.70, conduit relocation for $674, replacement fixtures for $1,277.72 and a drain for a compressor for $2,705.64 totaling $6,552.06.
The last notable item on the agenda was the approval of a new intercom system for the district. It would help alert students at times of danger, especially those who are blind or deaf. The intercom would display visual messages and also be equipped with lights, flashes and directions so students can understand what is going on.
The district will be working with KCAV on this $1.5 million dollar project. So far all but five of the school buildings are equipped for the installation of new intercom system. The project is expected to begin this November and should be completed by February.
