Meeting Minutes: Teachers Receive $14K in Mini-Grants, CV Board OKs Millions in Improvements

The Chippewa Valley Schools Board of Education's May 16 agenda was a mixed bag of items from swearing in its re-elected members to approving several million dollars in improvements to district buildings and selecting a representative to vote in the upcoming MISD biennial election.

Spending to Save

The board unanimously approved a series of multi-million dollar bid awards that will make energy-conscious improvements to several district buildings.

"All these expenses from the budget are energy savings and will end up saving our general fund dollars in the future to put more toward the classrooms," said trustee George Sobah.

Among these energy-efficient improvements is the $3-million replacement of light fixtures and installation of occupancy sensors in the elementary and middle schools. The project will also replace the fire alarm systems at Dakota and Cherokee as well as install emergency generators at Ottawa, Ojibwa, Huron, Miami, Cherokee and Iroquois. The fire alarm and generator work will be completed this summer, and the remainder of the work will be completed during the 2011-12 school year on second shift. Funding for this project will come from the 2010 Building & Site Funds.

The board also approved a bid of $48,520 for the retro-commissioning of the five district buildings with the highest energy usage: Ojibwa, Algonquin, Administration, Maintenance and Little Turtle. Retro-commissioning will allow the district to review existing conditions to ensure that mechanical equipment is operating at optimal and efficient levels. Funding will come from the 2010 Building & Site Funds.

Additional bid awards approved were:

• Roofing Work/Algonqnin & Wyandot: $1,056,000. The project will replace the existing roof and install a new roof on three additions at Algonquin Middle School and restore the roof at Wyandot Middle School. The work will begin in June 2011 and be complete in August 2011. Funding for the Algonquin roof will come from the 2005 Building & Site Fund, and Wyandot from the 2010.
• Change Order Summary Report for the month of April 2011: The district will be credited back for $14,482. 
• Surveillance Systems: $1,526,060. The project was planned as part of the 2010 bond issue and includes interior and exterior surveillance cameras (772 cameras total) that will be installed within all buildings throughout the district. Funding is available within the 2010 Building & Site Funds.
• Custodial Supplies Contract: $137,614. The district will purchase various custodial supplies district-wide from HP Products, as per the district's annual contract with that supplier. Funding will come from the General Fund for this purchase.

Welcome Back

Winning the district's May 3 school board election, trustees Denise Aquino and George Sobah will serve another six-year term each on the board.

The pair was sworn in once again by Interim Superintendent Ron Roberts at the board's May 16 meeting.

"Both Mr. Sobah and Mrs. Aquino are excellent board members with many years of experience and it is great to have them back," Roberts said.

Chippewa Valley Educational Foundation Mini-Grants

The Chippewa Valley Education Foundation awarded almost $14 thousand in mini-grants to 33 elementary, middle and high school teachers.

These grants will be used to purchase additional equipment and to fund classroom projects.

Representation in the MISD Biennial Election

Trustee Andrew Patzert was unanimously elected to represent Chippewa Valley Schools in the MISD Biennial Election. Instructed by the board, Patzert will cast his vote for John Bozymowski, the current president of the MISD Board of Education, and Max McCullough, the current vice president.

"From my involvement (with the MISD board), both those two do a wonderful job and are very dedicated to the MISD board," Sobah said. "They have a lot of experience and they work hard to make sure things are done properly on that board."

Trustee Tammy Reynolds was elected to serve as an alternative representative.