Leetonia BOE to bid out driveway work

LEETONIA- The Leetonia school board Thursday night decided to develop specifications and bid out the paving of the driveway at the K-12 campus.

The meeting agenda included the approval of a $22,950 contract with Buckeye Paving & Concrete to resurface the drive at the campus prior to the start of school in August, but the board chose to remove the item after deciding to develop specs for the project so that each estimate will be for the exact same project. The current estimates did not follow a spec sheet.

The board will have to bid out the project since one of the estimates that a board member wished to accept is over the $25,000 limit permitted without the bidding process.

According to Schools Superintendent Rob Mehno the drive was not included in the parking lot resurfacing funded by the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission last year after fault was found with the contractor who had completed the work when the campus was built 12 years ago. The OSFC found that the deterioration of the drive was due to natural wear and tear.

The spec sheet is expected to be developed today and advertisement for bids published the next two weeks, so that the bids can be opened in July and the project completed before the start of school.

In other business the board discussed its use of facilities policy which credits groups for use of the concession stand during events. The policy can result in the district spending more money than it generates in rental fees, so the board is considering eliminating the credit. The board took no action regarding the issue.

The board also approved the services of DDTA Services of East Palestine for drug and alcohol testing of bus drivers and the Columbiana County Community Action Agency as the bus physician of record to the annual bus driver physicals; and a $50,133 contract with the Columbiana County Educational Service Center for a school psychologist for 2014-2015.

Additionally the board approved 2015 temporary appropriations at $2,693,000 and accepted donations $1,000 from the Historical Society for the 2014 Historical Society Scholarship, $2,000 from the Leetonia Eagles for their 2014 scholarship, $4,000 from the Leetonia Ruritan Club for four $1,000 scholarships, $1,500 from the Leetonia PTO for the K-4 Reader's Notebooks, $555.65 from the Leetonia PTO to the Drama Club Fund, $100 from St. Jacob's United Church of Christ for the High School Band Fund, $250 from the Washingtonville VFW for the Band Fund and $50 from Diane Perkins for the Perkins/Totora Scholarship Fund.

Under personnel, the board accepted the resignation of Cheryl Almy, superintendent secretary/EMIS coordinator and public relations coordinator, effective July 4. The board also approved 10 extended days for guidance counselor Mary Rice for prior to the start of school in August, with board member Larry Duko voting no citing his desire to see the extended days be included in negotiated contracts instead of at the request of the superintendent.

The board also agreed to maintain a 5 percent pick up of STRS for an employee after the STRS increases 1 percent. The employee will incur the additional 1 percent. Duko voted to support the action, but noted that he believed the district should not be picking up any of the retirement for employees.

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Leetonia BOE to bid out driveway work