By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Members of the Carthage R-9 School Board on Monday night pressed builders for assurances that construction delays at the new Carthage Vocational-Technical School are being addressed.
Work on the $3.7 million project is three weeks behind schedule and is expected to be finished by June 7, Bevan Brawner, with Hight Jackson Associates, the district’s architectural firm, told the board. Bad weather has been cited, for the most part, for the delay.
“They’re improving, but it’s taken some time to catch up,” Brawner said of work under the direction of Wehr Construction Co., Springfield, the general contractor.
State funding of $400,000 in project costs hinges on the work being finished by June 30, said Jeff Jones, board president.
“We’ve been in contact with the state, and they say they’ll work with us, but we don’t want it to come to that,” he said.
The new center, under construction just east of the new Carthage High School, will house agriculture, machining, marketing, computer science and electronics programs. The carpentry, automotive and health sciences programs will remain at the current center at 609 River St.
Costs for the new vo-tech school are being paid through a state grant and a grant from the Carthage-based Steadley Foundation. Up to $850,000 in interest costs are being saved through the issuance of Qualified School Construction Bonds, approved by voters in August.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a resolution expressing the district’s opposition to a bill proposed in the Missouri Senate that would authorize open enrollment, allowing students to attend schools regardless of district boundaries.
Jones said the plan would be “a convoluted mess.” The resolution says open enrollment would make it impossible for districts to plan for class loads, could increase class sizes, and potentially could force districts to pay more to provide buildings for an influx of out-of-district students.
Superintendent Blaine Henningsen said the bill was discussed at a recent legislative forum at which educators also heard form lawmakers about state budget problems.
He said state funding for elementary and secondary education is expected to be $43 million short this fiscal year, with the shortfall to worsen the next year with the end of federal stimulus funding.
“We’re going to have to prepare for some lean years,” he said.
In other business, the board:
n Heard a report that the district’s school bus fleet scored a 98 percent ranking in a recent inspection by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
n Set April 19 as the date for the board to reorganize after the April 6 elections.
n Adopted a revised policy on bullying.
Revised calendar
The last day of classes this year has been moved to June 2, district officials said, to account for four days of school missed because of winter weather.
