City school board approves bus garage project, sets graduation date
Michelle Sharp, principal of the Bardstown Early Childhood Education Center, shows the board animal-based alphabet letters the center uses with its students.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 11:33 p.m. — The Bardstown Board of Education approved a bond sale that will fund conversion of the former Salt River Electric building on Templin Avenue to serve as the district’s new bus garage. The project also includes energy efficiency upgrades in lighting, heating and cooling.
BCD Construction was awarded the bid after a second bidder withdrew after mistakes were discovered in their bid.
Superintendent Brent Holsclaw reviews the district’s financial report during Tuesday’s board meeting while board chairman Jim Roby looks on.
Todd Hood, director of instructional related services, told the board BCD’s bid still came in low enough to allow adding some additional work to the project. Original estimates for the project were just over $1.5 million. The actual bid plus the 5 percent contingency and other necessary fees totaled $1.26 million.
The board convened as the district’s finance corporation to approve a resolution to conduct the bond sale. The board also approved entering into a contractor agreement with BCD in regard to the bus garage project.
SEEK FUNDING. During a discussion of the district’s finances, Superintendent Brent Holsclaw told the board that the base SEEK funding numbers will remain the same as last year. However, cuts are coming to funds provided for additional programs, such as those that fund services for at-risk students and transportation for students with special needs.
The board will have a chance to review an updated budget in May, he said.
GRADUATION DATE SET. The board set Bardstown High School’s graduation as 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3. The last day of school is anticipated to be Friday, June 2.
In other business, the board:
— listened to a presentation about the educational targets for the Bardstown Early Childhood Education Center from its principal, Michelle Sharp. The center plans in the future to partner with four local daycares to improve the readiness for the children they serve when they enter public school kindergarten.
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