USD 480 Board Meets, Approves Moving Forward with Middle School Girls Wrestling

The USD 480 Board of Education met on Monday February 10th at 6:30pm. Among the items on the agenda was Girls Wrestling. The administration from both middle schools  provided the Board with a proposal for Middle School Girls Wrestling.  The MSWAC League asked  each school district to discuss and get feedback from their local Board of Education if they are willing to start a girls wrestling program. The administration will now report back to the MSWAC League the opinion of the Boards of Education.

Also  the Board approved the purchase of stage risers for the Black Box Theater.   The stage risers for 102 seats is $14,845.  Wenger is a sole source provider for this product.  After an amount left of $6,730.24 from a donation, there is $8,114.76 remaining.  This difference will  be paid with capital outlay funds.

The USD 480 Board approved Fire alarm upgrades at Cottonwood Elementary. Final cost from Johnson Controls is $61,721.00.

Transportation needs were up for discussion as the transportation committee met on 2/5/2020 and is recommending that the District move forward with three bus purchases:

1.  Special Education

-Current backup bus #7 has reached end of life, sell the backup and rotate existing bus into the backup, 27 passenger

2.  Normal replacement yellow bus #14

-Originally planned for the 2020-21 year, 77 passenger

3.  Add additional yellow bus to the fleet

-Two existing bus routes are at capacity, transportation needs increasing with additional student activities, 77 passenger.

It was also discovered that it will take 45 additional Vape Detectors to finish coverage of EMS, SRMS, LHS West Annex, LHS East Campus and the rest of LHS Main Campus.  The Board approved the purchase of the 45 detectors in the amount of  $35,775.00

Also on the agenda was a Band Instrument request. Staff presented  a proposal for the purchasing of band instruments from an anonymous donation monies. The District approved purchasing the rented instruments from Brier and Hale in the amount of $7265.00 and new instruments from   Senseney  for $7525.00. Grand Total for the purchases will be $14,790.00.

After Executive Session, the Board approved a counter offer of $300,000 for 439 S.Pennsylvania.