HOISINGTON — Monday night, the USD 431 Board of Education received an update from Nabholz Construction Rep. Mickey Starkey that he said should put their minds at ease. He handed out copies of the milestone schedule agreed upon at the beginning of the project to each board member. He noted that while the build was behind schedule in one area, steel construction, it is well ahead of schedule in another, drywalling. According to the schedule, drywalling was expected to begin in February, but according to the revised schedule, it will actually begin during the first or second week of December.
While he affirmed the school building would be completed by the May 5, 2017, the real push will come when the school year is over and the demolition of the old building begins. There is a short window to complete that and install the new parking lot and sidewalks. Those, he said, must be completed before the Fire Marshall would be able to sign off on the build and allow the public to enter.
“I could have the entire building done in April, you see, but it wouldn’t make a difference because we can’t start work on the demolition and completion of the grounds until school is done for the year,” he said.
Steel and roof decking will be completed by Thanksgiving, he said.
Superintendent Bill Lowry said plans were being made for the closing of the school.
“There is value, I believe, in allowing the public an opportunity to enter the old school building one more time,” he said. Discussion have also included the possibility of an auction of certain items, but he said it would have to happen as close to the end of school as possible. The cardinal emblem in the center of the Gym, he said, would be removed and framed to be displayed in the new building, and a time capsule would be assembled and buried next to the new flag pole.
With the success of the beam signing event still fresh in the minds of board members,Starkey said similar events would be held later in the spring.

Administrative reports
Lowry gave a brief legislative report, offering a general overview of what is happening leading up to Tuesday’s general election. On Wednesday, Nov. 9, he and Board President Dean Stoskopf will be attending a legislative luncheon hosted by Smoky Hill.
Stoskopf reported Sen. Jerry Moran visited the district Thursday, Nov. 3, and briefly toured the new Lincoln School building site before continuing his tour of the county.
Elementary School Principal Alan Charles reported parent teacher conferences saw high turnouts at both Roosevelt and Lincoln elementary schools, both in the upper 90 percent. Friday will be an early release day, and he will be meeting with teachers for an hour about new accreditation initiatives for next year, and then he and the 12 teachers that will be teaching at the new Lincoln school next year will have a telephone conference with the architect at the District Office to discuss the layouts of their classrooms.
Following Charles’ report, Stoskopf asked for a 15 minute executive session for the purposes of discussing non-elected personnel. Upon returning to regular session, the board approved two resignations : Bob Rome as middle school head football coach at the end of the 2016-2017 school year, and Tanya Piland as food service staff member, effective immediately.
They also approved two supplemental contracts, one to Joseph Doze for middle school boys basketball assistant coach for the 2016-2017 school year, and Zack Sanders for high school wrestling assistant coach for the 2016-2017 school year.
Two new employees were approved also, Daymon Phelps as full-time custodian and Audra Lamb as full-time food service staff, effective immediately.
The meeting was then adjourned

Other items of discussion included:
Approved three requests for out of district attendance and transportation, two from past students, and one kindergartner.
Due to scheduling conflicts with athletics games Dec. 5, the Board agreed to meet on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.
The first reading of proposed language for the employee handbook concerning the new automated timekeeping system was discussed. The Board will take action on it at the Dec. 6 meeting.