ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The USD 480 school board will have a full agenda to take on at its next meeting Monday evening starting at 6:30. Monday’s meeting will be in Room B110 at Seymour Rogers Middle School at 721 Griffith Avenue.
After discussion of a project to repair and refinish the lockers at LHS, the board will be discussing the purchase of a new bus.
“USD 480 solicited quotes via the KSDE Transportation Department cooperative pricing bus purchasing program for a 77-passenger replacement bus,” the agenda information noted. “This is for a budgeted replacement bus, and the Transportation Department is requesting to purchase the bus from Midwest Bus Sales due to local warranty support and service. This purchase has been recommended by the Transportation Committee. Staff is recommending the board approve the quote from Midwest Bus sales in the amount of $159,102.”
The board will also be asked to approve the purchase of another smaller bus.
“USD 480 solicited quotes via the KSDE Transportation Department cooperative pricing bus purchasing program for an additional 59-passenger bus with wheelchair lift,” the agenda information noted. “This is for an additional bus to be added to our fleet to support an additional SPED route at Bright Start Early Learning Center. The Transportation Department is again requesting to purchase the bus from Midwest Bus Sales due to local warranty support and service, and this purchase has been recommended by the Transportation Committee. Staff is recommending the board approve the quote from Midwest Bus sales in the amount of $157,006.”
In addition to the bus, there will be a request for additional personnel.
“We have been on a wait list this year for riders to Bright Start Early Learning Center. Adding an additional bus driver and an additional aid we can add one additional SPED route dedicated to Bright Start Early Learning Center to help eliminate the wait list and provide additional opportunities for transportation to the school,” the agenda information noted. “The additions have been recommended by the Transportation Committee, and staff is recommending the board approve one additional bus driver and one aide position for the Transportation Department.”
The board will also be discussing the renovation project at the LHS library.
“USD 480 solicited bids to perform renovations at the LHS Library per specifications,” the agenda information noted. “One bid was received from French Construction in Liberal, and includes a base bid of $1,144,654.24, Alternate No. 1 Decorative Ceiling in the amount of $391,156, Alternate No. 2 Millwork Bookshelf in the amount of $7,803.22, and Alternate No. 3 Millwork Seating Bookshelf in the amount of $16,806.06. The proposed project completion schedule is Jan. 1, 2025. The total including the decorative ceiling would be $1,560,419.52, and the total without the decorative ceiling would be $1,169,263.52. Staff is recommending the board approve the bid from French Construction in the amount of $1,169,263.52.”
The board will then be asked to approve a payment application to Hellas Construction in the amount of $101,379 and then approve the application form for new out-of-district students.
To conclude the meeting, the board will be discussing bids for Chromebooks.
