Construction progress still targeting Aug. 16 completion

With schedule trumping budget, Holyoke School Board members approved a cost of approximately $80,000 to accelerate the Building Excellent Schools Today project to make the Aug. 16 completion date feasible.

Project manager Ryan Smelker joined the board remotely at its April 8 meeting for a project update.

He reported that Howell Construction solicited information from 352 companies for subcontracting. A total of 182 companies viewed the project and 35 provided a proposal.

Pricing was reviewed, with new pricing from Howell and all subcontractors coming in a little bit higher than the previous round. Smelker acknowledged that $190,000 higher sounds like a lot, but in a $4 million construction project, it really isn’t that big.

He said his goal is to quickly try to work that number back down if at all possible. Superintendent Kyle Stumpf said the project is still trending under total budget costs, which is a positive.

One reason the costs increased is that Smelker pushed hard to keep it a summer project and not push it into the second week of September.

As a result, they split the project into two areas to keep subcontractors going in two different areas at once. Area 2 involves the JH locker room and current weight room as well as the new location for the weight room. All the rest of the project is Area 1.

Keeping two crews going at once requires bringing in another supervisor. There’s also another $20,000 allowances for potential overtime. These extra costs driven by keeping on schedule amount to close to $80,000.

With the weight room and JH locker room potentially not being done until Sept. 10 without the double crews, the board weighed in on its significance.

While the weight room was not considered urgent, the JH locker rooms were, and the board felt it was better to spend $80,000 for better assurance that the project would be done by Aug. 16.

Board member Jon Kleve added that any unforeseen extensions would then push the project to September. If the project is already targeted for September completion, an unforeseen extension could push it to October.

Factoring in that some permit costs were lower, Smelker said that if contracts were signed now, it would use up about $172,000 of contingency funds, which still leaves $186,000.

He added that Howell Construction has built another $195,000 in contingency into the contract.

There was some discussion about the need for water fountains in the new weight room and the varsity locker rooms. That will be looked into before plans are finalized rather than making it a change order later.

Permit fees were paid last week, and construction permit drawings were to be submitted from Wold Architects & Engineers on Monday, April 12.

Smelker said he was pleasantly surprised to see the schedule pulled back to the original Aug. 16 date.

He added that the district is doing a good job of accomodating the construction completion by approving the $80,000 premium, allowing demolition to begin May 10 and bumping the start of the 2021-22 school year back by a week.

3 new teachers hired

Two elementary school teachers and one for the JR/SR high were hired for the 2021-22 school year at last week’s board meeting.

The newly hired teachers are Sarah Korpan, kindergarten; Dani Brandt, elementary special education; and Hannah Peterson, JR/SR high science.

Korpan has 20 years experience in education. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in reading from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and also has her princial certification from UNL.

She earned her Master of Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in English as a second language from Arizona State University.

Brandt, a Holyoke High School graduate, is currently working in Haxtun as a K-5 special education teacher. She completed her student teaching in 2019 in the Holyoke district.

She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and special education from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Peterson is from the Roggen area and is completing her student teaching at Merino High School.

She will graduate in May from Western State University in Gunnison with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology with an emphasis in secondary education.

Board members also approved resignations and appointments for extra-duty assignments.

Dusty McConnell resigned as head HS wrestling coach effective May 21 and Luke Goldenstein as JH assistant track coach for the current season.

Dani Jablonski was hired for the JH assistant track coach position, with Goldenstein designated a volunteer coach for the sport.

Teacher employment renewed

Renewal of teacher employment for 2021-22 was approved at last week’s meeting.

Five probationary teachers were moved to nonprobationary status. They are Sarah Bergner, Aaron Cottam, Amy Duvall, Dani Jablonski and Charlee Kleve.

Probationary teachers who were approved for 2021-22 include Amanda Brown, Ashley Gales, Jordan Gerk, Tancy King, Cecilia Marquez, David Mauler, Micah Mehl, Desiree Mosenteen, Stephanie Rau, Colbey Stumpf and Kody Timm.

Nonprobationary teacher renewals were made for Cyndi Bahler, John Baumgartner, Cindi Beavers, Yesenia Bencomo, Stefan Betley, Heather Bieber, Ashley Clayton, Carly Daniel, Kerri Bliss, Jimmy French, Jade Goldenstein, Joann Goss, Wendy Grothman, Kaitlin Hansberry, Maury Kramer, Cristine Mallari, Nancy Miles, Lori Nelson, Karen Ortner, Kristie Pelle, Tarah Priddy, Andrea Schlachter, Lynn Schneider, Shauna Strecker, Theresa Tharp and Kari Vasa.

Classified staff employment approved

Classified staff employment recommendations were made for 2021-22 for Brenda Krueger, district administrative director; Joan Price, HR/payroll director; Ben Rahe, budget and finance director; Perry Ingram, director of technology.

Dusty McConnell and Jenna Scalzo, maintenance/grounds; Stacey Krogmeier and Natali Goytia, secretaries.

Mark Groshans, Fletcher Hinck, Marcus Kammer, Scott Murray, Jenna Scalzo and Kim Young, transportation; Guadalupe Montes, Albino Nuñez, Cleofas Orona de Juarez, Rosa Ronquillo and Juana Ruiz, custodians.

Tracey Cordova, Yazmin Diaz, Jill Hubbard, Melisa Hunter, Aydaly Juarez, Anita Lengfelder, Erin Lindholm, Sasha Lopez, Johana Nevarez, Elaina Nygaard, Leticia Penzing, Paolo Ruiz, Christy Shafer and Ana Karen Trejo, paraprofessionals.

Other business

In other business April 8, the Re-1J board:

— Reviewed a Season B sports report and Season C update from activities director John Baumgartner.

— Heard an update on graduation and prom plans. Graduation will be held on the football field Sunday, May 16, with the Bank of Colorado Pavilion at the fairgrounds as an alternate site in case of bad weather. Prom is set for Saturday, April 24, with a grand march in the HHS auditorium. The rest of the prom activity will be held at the Phillips County Event Center. Sophomore parents are also coordinating post prom activities.