Renting portable bleachers will come at a price
Board considers free use to district patrons
Staff reporter
Even though school is out for the summer, USD 410 board of education had plenty on its agenda Monday night.
The board gave a consensus to school officials that the mobile bleachers should be rented for $1,000 per event.
Expenses of transporting and setting up the portable seats within a 60-mile radius were reviewed by the board.
Board president Rod Koons said the expenses were "hard costs" and the school district needed to have a "little bit" for providing the service.
Labor costs were factored for "after hours" which typically would be when the bleachers would be set up and removed.
The board didn't anticipate numerous requests for the bleachers but figured if it was $1,000-$1,500, groups would decide if it was worth it to them.
USD 410 Superintendent Doug Huxman said replacement cost of the bleachers was approximately $50,000. Koons said charging groups five percent of the value of the bleachers wasn't a bad deal.
"Can we feel good about telling groups like the Florence Labor Day committee and Chingawassa Days committee and Goessel Threshing Days committee that it costs $1,000? I think we can," Koons said.
The board discussed the option of not charging to groups within the Hillsboro school district such as in Durham and Lehigh.
Maintenance and transportation director Keith Goossen said it takes eight hours to set up and take down.
Another concern was how the bleachers would be hauled. At this time, the district does not have a vehicle that can do that.
Formal action will be taken by the board when the administration addresses other guidelines.
In other business:
— The board approved the conversion of the district's network operating system from Novell to Microsoft at a cost of $30,094. Twotrees Technologies of Wichita will do the conversion project.
Koons asked how Microsoft was different from Novell? Huxman said it was more user friendly. Board member Mark Rooker said it would eliminate the currently issues the district was having with Novell. Microsoft would be more reliable and a more stable environment.
— Greg Brown, Hillsboro Middle School principal and curriculum director, presented book orders. The board approved the purchases not to exceed $14,000 for health and P.E. and $26,000 for business and accounting.
Brown reported that online versions of textbooks would cost $10,000 per grade for the site license.
Costs for the past six years were reviewed, Brown said, and he would like to see a five-year rotation for book replacement.
— Through the consent agenda, the board approved a donation of $375 to Hillsboro Elementary School Library by the HES Site Council, Hillsboro Kiwanis Club donated $250 to the HES After School Program, Hillsboro Middle School Site Council made a donation of $111.60 toward the purchase of almanacs, and a donation was accepted from the HMS Site Council for $189 for the purchase of SCOPE magazines.
— The board approved the payment of bills that totaled $770,645.
— An executive session was held to discuss acquisition of property with no decisions being made after the board returned to open session.
A special board meeting will be at 6 p.m. June 23 to discuss personnel issues, and review insurance proposals and a cell phone usage plan. The meeting will be at the district office in the basement of Emprise Bank.
