School board accepts final bids on TNHS auditorium project, OKs bond sale

Financial advisor Joe Nance of Ross, Sinclaire & Associates LLC explained details of the bond sale that will finance the ELC expansion as well as the addition of an auditorium at Thomas Nelson High School.

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Thursday, April 14, 2016, 11 p.m. — Thomas Nelson High School is one step closer to construction on its long-awaited auditorium following the actions Thursday of the Nelson County Board of Education.

Meeting Thursday at Cox’s Creek Elementary, the board accepted the final bids needed for the project to go forward.

Board members Diane Breeding, left, and David Norman, listen during the discussion of the bond sale to finance the district’s two construction projects.

The board also held firm on its desire to not allow its construction manager — BCD Inc. — to participate in the project’s construction despite the board allowing BCD to bid.

In March, the board reluctantly agreed to allow BCD to submit bids after three of the auditorium’s bid packages failed to attract bids. Superintendent Anthony Orr told the board that allowing BCD to bid would prevent a possible construction delay by putting the work out for bids once again.

BCD had the lowest bid on the three parts of the projects on which it bid, but the board opted to award bids to the next lowest bidders. The move added approximately $98,000 to the $3.5 million auditorium project.

FINANCING FOR CONSTRUCTION. The board convened as the district finance corporation in order to authorize the sale of bonds to finance the construction of the Early Learning Center expansion and auditorium project at Thomas Nelson High School.

The finance board — made up of the five members of the school board — unanimously approved the sale of bonds to raise the approximate $6.5 million needed to cover the combined cost of both projects.

Site preparation is already under way at the Early Learning Center. Tim Hockensmith, the district’s chief operating officer, previously told the board that both projects are expected to be completed by the time school opens in the fall of 2017.

District Chief Information Officer David Coffing reviews the survey of the district’s digital citizenship.

TECHNOLOGY PLAN. David Coffing, the district’s chief information officer, provided the board with an overview of the district’s revised technology plan.

The plan is more than descriptions of new hardware upgrades the district the district hopes to achieve. The plan includes a survey of how students and teachers use technology, which Coffing said gives him a better understanding of how the technology plan can meet the district’s needs.

The survey, completed in conjunction with BrightBytes, provides scores looks at student and teacher digital citizenship to examine if technology is being used properly, and if students are getting the technology instruction they need.

The district is increasing its use of Google Apps for Education, which allow students and teachers to engage in collaborative projects regardless of their location.

The final draft of the plan will be presented to the board at its regular monthly meeting April 19.

In other business, the board:

— heard a report from Kim Brown, director of secondary schools, that the planned job fair set for April 27 had to be moved to the large gym at Nelson County High School after more than 60 employers expressed an interest in participating. In addition to local employers, the district’s high school students will also be able to meet military recruiters and college representatives.

Participating students must talk to four employers, including one they have never considered as a career path. Students will also participate in mock interviews on May 9 to help them sharpen their job-seeking skills.

— discussed separating the currently combined roles of district Director of Pupil Personnel and the Director of College and Career Readiness in order to allow for sufficient time to be spent on both of these important areas. The board may make a decision on the matter at its April 19 meeting.

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