Energy bond bids, concession facility on school agenda

By DEB WUETHRICH

The Tecumseh Board of Education approved a series of energy bond projects totaling $217,313 Monday night, rounding out a list of maintenance projects that needed to be done and were approved last year. Monroe Plumbing and Heating of Monroe was awarded a bid for $80,620 for a middle school boiler; Lake Erie Electric of Toledo, Ohio, will provide high school lighting for safety purposes and pool lighting for $111,660; Advanced Pool Services, Hoghland, bid $11,770 for pool maintenance; and Dailey Engineering, of Onsted, will provide design and construction services for $13,263.

“This should be the last major piece of those energy bond projects passed last year,” said Business and Finance Director Bill Wright. He said that approximately $18,000 would be left over in the funds allocated for the projects. “We should be in great shape on our boilers and roofs for several years now,” he said, noting that the next roof to be replaced would be the high school, and that should be at least 10 years from now.

Board President Debbie Johnson-Burges said that the Policy Committee had discussed the issue of adopting a resolution outlining preference for Michigan-based companies when awarding bids.

“We’re not recommending that we adopt a policy at this time,” said Johnson-Berges. She said that discussion included taking into consideration that Michigan workers may work for Ohio firms that would submit bids, and the fact that the Michigan Senate may yet be changing language in a bill addressing a preference for Michigan-based firms.

“We would hate to adopt something and have it be totally offset by what they do,” said Johnson-Berges. “At this time, I’d like not to put ourselves in the position of having to redo something based on what the

In other business, the board members:
• Viewed art and heard a music program using “boomwhackers” and xylophones from Tecumseh’s Sutton Elementary School students, with art teacher Beth Ann Paepke and music teacher Joyce Lammers.
• Heard a report on elementary centers from Tecumseh Acres Principal Carl Lewandowski. The report was compiled at an earlier request by school board members to explore the feasibility of turning the district’s four elementary schools, now essentially “neighborhood” schools, into centers made up of specific grade levels. The study was part of the board’s exploration of educational benefits and costs of current and potential programs.
• Heard public comment from Patty Mulready asking why parents are having to transport students to and from athletic events. The matter was referred to McAran, who responded Tuesday morning, along with Athletic Director, Griff Mills, that as a cost-saving measure, parents in some sports have been canvassed by coaches and where possible, parents have been transporting students. Mills said precedent was set last year in sports such as volleyball, which has extended to other sports such as cross country and swimming, baseball and softball. In addition, parents had been the ones to question last year why buses would bring students to events, and then drivers were paid to stay for the entire game, and then the bus would return empty because all the students had rides. Mills said there is no policy on the matter yet in place, however, formalizing this issue is being addressed as one of the proposed ways to save money next year.
“We’re trying not to waste money,” said Mills. “At this time, we’re just trying to maintain what we have.”