M-P BOE to put levy on May ballot
By Dean Shipley
Staff Writer
At its first meeting of the new year, the Madison-Plains Board of Education (BOE) moved to place a 2.5 mill replacement levy for permanent improvements on the May 7 ballot. The replacement levy will generate, if passed, an annual sum of $617,764 for five years, commencing in January 2014, according to Tim Dettwiller, treasurer.
Among the needs Dettwiller expressed are:
• upgrade of HVAC on the intermediate school building as it currently has no air conditioning
• upgrade of seating in the auditorium and gym
• other facility needs with focus on lunch rooms and gym space
Lindsey Kreager, field commander for the Madison-Plains Marching Band, salutes and leads the parade of bands Dec. 29 down Main Street of Disney World, Orlando, Fla. Many donations were made to the Madison-Plains band boosters at the Madison-Plains Board of Education meeting and were accepted at the meeting Tuesday evening.
In other business the BOE agreed to seek bids for two new 78-passenger school buses as a part of the district’s ongoing permanent improvement plan. Funds for the buses have already been a part of the present budget.
In his report, superintendent Boone Hall said the district needs to get better control of its buildings’ doors for better security. He said the district is looking into a different keying system as well as security cameras in an effort to better secure the buildings.
It was discussed how to expedite the process for bids for the work by eliminating the process whereby the call for bids through the newspaper would be sidestepped by declaring the urge of necessity.
“We’re trying to expedite the procedures as fast as we can,” Hall said.
Regarding other needs on the grounds, Hall said they include installing some new windows where water leakage has been discovered; new plumbing for the wastewater treatment plant, electrical upgrades and new light fixtures in the bus building.
During the organizational portion of the meeting, Michael Brandt was elected president of the BOE and Ken Morlock was elected vice president. Brandt said his home is currently for sale. He is seeking another, if possible, within the district and will remain on the BOE as long as it’s legally possible.
Other committee assignments by BOE members will remain the same as last year.
Supporters of the band boosters stepped up and were instrumental in their support of the music program. Donations to the band through the boosters included:
• $5,623 from Sugar Creek Packing Co. for student poster chairs
• $2,000 from Stanley Electric Corp. for a Yamaha bass clarinet
• $2,500 from Pleasant View Stock Farm for a Yamaha Tuba
• $800 from Pleasant View Stock Farm Band for financial gift
• $100 from Cool Acres Farm, LLC for a piccolo
• $100 from Virginia Hunter Band for a piccolo
• $100 from First Community Bank, Sedalia for a piccolo
• $100 from Walls and Bennett Realtors for a piccolo
• $50 from Dillion Realty Band Boosters for a piccolo
• $200 from Mt. Sterling Nazarene Church Band for a trombone
Kellie Portman also donated $350 to the high school student council as a mini grant award for Thinking Before Sinking LLC.
Bet this is all we hear about this because they want to sneak it in an election with low turn out.
Not impressed with MP or Boone Hall.