Duff-Kingston receiving lighting makeover

Eldorado school board heard positive reviews of a new lighting system now being installed in Duff-Kingston Gym during Thursday's board meeting.

Carrying a $30,000 price tag, board members said they have heard discussion in the community questioning the purchase. Custodian Eric Cantrell said, he, too, questioned the purchase and when he initially saw some of the newly installed lights he continued question it. But he asked board members to stand at half court and look south where the new lights have been installed, then turn around and look at the difference in the view to the north. He said in the north there are shadows. In the south there are not.

There are fewer lights than before, but they have greater output, Cantrell said. They allow light to be isolated to certain areas of the gym and have dimmer switches. Lighting over the spectators may be dimmed during ball games and then brightened during breaks. The lights can be dimmed during dances.

Superintendent Ryan Hobbs said people will not hear a hum as they did with the old lighting that can be distracting during special functions held there.

In addition to updated the board on lighting progress, Architect Ed Kerkhover also said a new cooler and freezer is installed at the elementary school. The machine is outside and is being framed in by a masonry company.

Kerkhover said the gutters are installed at the grade school and at Duff-Kingston Gym and electrical work is done at the gym.

During the meeting: Hobbs said in the treasurer's report board members will note the education fund is $1.2 million less than predicted and this is because the property tax levy money has not yet arrived.

"We should have half of it this month," Hobbs said.

Administrative Assistant Rick Cox told the board they should examine the district's required new anti-bullying, intimidating and harassment policy which must be updated and mailed to the state every two years. Cox said the main change regards cyberbullying. In the past if a student wrote a bullying comment using social media outside school hours it was not the school's issue to resolve. Administrators could make recommendations to notify police. Now no matter when bullying occurs administrators must take action.

"Now if he come to the principal and says, 'He's bullying me,' he has to document it," Cox said.

Teachers Cody Cusic and Miranda Cain reported to the board the district will utilize the state's Rising Star Improvement Plan for the school's improvement plan. They also reported Jesse White's Tumblers will perform 10:15 a.m. Wednesday and awards will be given out to 45 students who met or exceeded state standards in state testing.

They also said they had promised students taking state testing if overall results exceeded last year's results they would receive open campus lunch privileges on Fridays. The students did, so they will be receiving open campus. Not only will they receive open campus, the teachers are also working with local restaurants to provide $500 in free lunches.

The board commended Cantrell, custodial staff and city workers for their hard work fixing a drainage problem at the high school. The school is organizing a fish fry for the city workers in thanks for drainage help and snow removal around the school.

The board transferred Angie Cox from Pre-K Just for Kids to half-time district employee. Hobbs said the school had been paying the Just for Kids program to pay Cox and now the school will be paying Cox directly.

The board approved Cantrell as head maintenance technician for the remainder of the school year.