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School bonds sold

Board will

try to invest locally

Sports reporter

JP Morgan Securities Inc. was the highest bidder Monday for the $8 million in bonds Marion-Florence USD 408 Board of Education put up for sale.

The New York City-based investment company submitted an interest bid of 4.105657 percent. The percentage was down from the estimated 4.75 the board had planned for in its budget. That means the project will cost approximately $547,000 less than proposed. The state will now pay one-third of $547,000 less over the 18-year bond, and voters in the district will pay two-thirds less during the time.

At one point it was estimated the project may cost somewhere around $12,370,000, now it is fixed in at $11,823,292.92. That is an average of $20,000 less per year for the district tax base.

The board said all along the project would not increase the current mill levy of 10.4, and this ensures that will happen.

The district will hold a special meeting May 19 with the four banks in the area: Central National Bank, Tampa State Bank, Marion National Bank, and Cottonwood Valley Bank.

The board hopes to work something out between the four.

"We are trying to invest the money locally," Leiker said.

The interest from the bonds will help pay for some of the project as building begins.

A special meeting will be held at noon May 22 to discuss construction plans.

After Steve Shogren, the board's financial adviser from George K. Baum and Associates, delivered the bond information the board approved the bid from JP Morgan. It also approved the issuance of a resolution "authorizing and directing the issuance, sale, and delivery of the principal amount of general obligation school building bonds."

In other news:

— The board approved a contract with Spangenberg/Phillips to construct the building project.

— Service awards were presented to teachers in the district: Gary Stuchlik, Ken Arnhold, and Phoebe Janzen, 10 years. Ginger Becker, 15 years. Dick Maggard, 20 years. Bob Good, Margie Nienstedt, Jim Versch, and Shari Padgham, 25 years.

Versch also was presented with a University of Kansas 25 years of service and education award.

— The board approved the MES handbook, and heard proposals for the MMS and MHS handbooks. The board will vote on the remaining two next month.

— The approved a request for a swim team bus for the summer.

— Darlene Harber, Adam Heerey, and Jared Hett were approved by the board to work has part-time summer help for the district.

Harber will have custodial duties, while Hett and Heerey will split time doing yard maintenance and some custodial work.

— The board unanimously passed the budget for the summer school program. The cost of $17, 520.63 will include classes for students kindergarten through eighth grade.

The budget is down from nearly $20,000 last year.

— The board approved a bid to fix roofs at two separate district buildings.

Washing Roofing of Great Bend will repair the roof above the entry way to the gymnasium at the Florence building.

At a price of $4,320 Stanfield Roofing of El Dorado will clean the area, will apply a thin layer of foam to help slope the water away from the building, and finish with an acrylic coating. The project is similar to the one used to repair the roof of MES gymnasium. The project is under a 10-year warranty.

Washington Roofing of Great Bend submitted a bid of $4,837.

— Stanfield also was approved to repair the leaky roof of the high school building.

Washington submitted a bid of $27,500 to make repairs on the roof similar to the Florence building, but without the foam layer. Stanfield submitted a price of $21,100 to do the same.

Stanfield also quote $30,539 to add a one-inch layer of foam and a 10-year warranty to the roof.

Leiker said he had contacted other schools who used Stanfield, and heard nothing but compliments on their work.

— The board accepted the resignation of MMS English teacher Steve Janzen.

— The board accepted the resignation of MES teacher Alisa Jirak.

— The board offered a contract to MHS graduate Lucas King to teach the new construction technology class and middle school English. He currently teaches in Colorado.

— The board offered a contract to LeAnn Blaesi of Conway Springs to teach middle school English and become head volleyball coach for the high school team. Blaesi currently teaches in the Conway Springs school district.

— The board offered a contract to Crystal Gray of Great Bend to teach at the elementary school. It will be her first teaching job.

— The board extended Leiker's contract through the 2007-08 school year.

— The board extended MHS principal Ken Arnhold's contract through the 2007-08 school year.

— The board extended Gordon's contract through the 2007-08 school year.

— MES principal Stan Ploutz's contract was not extended. His contract currently runs through the 2006-07 school year.

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