Chester District 139 approves change orders
<span>In a special meeting Thursday, the Chester District 139 Board of Education approved nearly $380,000 in change orders to the Chester Grade School gymnasium project.</span>
<span>The change orders, which total $379,665, were for renovations to CGS Principal Tim Lochhead's office, band room renovations and the resurfacing of the parking lot - which was discussed during the board's regular meeting a week earlier.</span>
<span>"It is large, but it is covering a list of things," said Earl Kleidon, engineering coordinator for Baysinger Architects, to the board.</span>
<span>Interim Superintendent Bill Riley said the board had been asked whether the problems with the parking lot were due to bad installation by the contractor rather than excessive rainfall.</span>
<span>During the July 16 meeting, Kleidon said Chester-based Red Dot Construction and Equipment Rental was the contractor doing the parking lot work. At Thursday's meeting, Kleidon brought along a chunk of the pavement that had to be dug back up.</span>
<span>"There was no guarantee that the parking lot would be stable (after all the rainfall)," he said. "If we had a dry year, we probably would have gotten away with it.</span>
<span>"With the loss of base and topping, it just wasn't holding up."</span>
<span>Previously, Kleidon said the resurfacing will include 8 inches of compact rock under three inches of asphalt at a cost of roughly $91,000.</span>
<span>Board President Mitch Hammel asked Kleidon how he determined 8 inches would be needed. Kleidon stated testing determined bedrock at that depth.</span>
<span>"It was real sandy on that hillside," he said, later adding that paving, to be completed by E.T. Simonds Construction Company, is estimated to begin the first week of August.</span>
<span>Also included in the change orders are ornamental fencing, cutting and hanging the old CGS logos from the old gym in the new gymnasium, band room cabinets and acoustical panels, and a dedication plaque for the lobby.</span>
<span>Kleidon said the band director's office was not included on the list, but will be reflected in a future change order.</span>
<span>"We got rid of some of the chain link fencing and went with more ornamental fencing, which helps get rid of the institutional look," Kleidon said.</span>
<span>The board also approved a $102,000 bid from MC Electric Inc. of Red Bud for installation of new fire alarms at Chester High School. The bid is lower than the engineer's estimate of $111,000.</span>
<span>Board member Dan Colvis asked Kleidon what is wrong with the current system.</span>
<span>"The system has been added on to over the years and there are shorts in the wiring," Kleidon said.</span>
<span>Kleidon said they will be able to reuse a portion of the current system in the 2001 wing, which has a weight room and four classrooms.</span>
<span>MC Electric was the lowest of three bidders. Kleidon said the other bidders were concerned with working during the upcoming school year.</span>
<span>"They've been in our building before," he said of MC Electric. "So they're not opposed to doing it for that (bid) number."</span>
<span>In personnel matters, the board approved the resignation of Missy Meyer as special education teacher and student council co-sponsor. Meyer is leaving for a position in the Perandoe Educational Program (PEP) in Tilden.</span>
<span>Hammel said applicants for Meyer's position have special education training, but no health endorsements and the board discussed the possibility of hiring someone in a probational role as long as they are working toward getting their degree in that area.</span>
Roundup
<span>The BOE accepted the resignation of Trevor Kelkhoff as CHS assistant football coach, a paid position. Kelkhoff was approved as the new CGS baseball coach for 2015-16 and will be a volunteer for the football team.</span>
<span>The BOE approved Heather Young as a 7 ½-hour CGS paraprofessional at $9 per hour.</span>
<span>The BOE approved Debbie Jany as an 8-hour custodian at $9.25 per hour.</span>
<span>The BOE approved Jamie Clausen as a 3-hour CGS cafeteria aide at $8.25 per hour.</span>
<span>The BOE approved Boyd Miles as assistant CGS baseball coach for 2015-16.</span>
<span>The BOE approved Mike Heffernan as assistant football coach, moving him from a volunteer to paid position.</span>
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