School May Purchase Activity Bus
The GCISD School Board voted Nov. 12 to take bids on a new activity bus to replace the Bearkat Bus, which has been plagued with problems. Superintendent Steve Long said he estimated the cost for a Bluebird snub-nose bus with two-tone paint, travel seats, underneath storage, upper racks and an 8.3-liter Cummings diesel engine at approximately $107,000.
The school’s 2001 audit shows $806,000 having been added to the school’s reserves. Long said that some $900,000 had been taken from the reserves in recent years. Funds raised as a result of the tax rollback election in 2000 enabled the school to replenish its reserves, according to Long.
Long said that Claims Administrative Service will come 3 times annually to check the entire campus for safety, from closets to playground equipment. Long said they have made their first visit and found only minor problems, such as a vacuum cleaner with a cord that’s too small and storage closets that need to be cleaned and reorganized. They will return Dec. 19 to be sure that recommended improvements are complete.
The board heard a presentation by a representative of Johnson Controls, who discussed alternative funding sources for modernizing the school’s heating and cooling equipment to save funds over the years. He outlined a 15-year service plan that he said would save the school about $30,000 annually by reducing energy costs. Long will talk with other schools who have used this service before the board makes a decision on it.
The board had a 25-minute closed session with AD Wade Wesley regarding coaching assignments. No action was taken.
Establishment of an employee sick leave pool was approved. This pool will allow voluntary donations of leave by individual district employees to assist a fellow employee suffering from personal illness or disability, or an employee absent because of the illness or disability of an immediate family member.
Regarding other matters, Long said the school’s best route for its WADA payment will be to adopt Alpine and Valentine schools, and suggested the school donate excess playground equipment to the county after playground improvements are made
GCISD currently has an enrollment of 334 students: 12 in Head Start, 168 in grades K–6 and 154 in grades 7–12.