Sold! -- D. Jon Morrison purchases old West Ward building

The McCook Public Schools board of directors sold the former West Ward elementary building for $65,000, at its regular meeting Monday evening.

Although she did not reveal the new owner's plans for the building, McCook real estate agent Jeannette Reed said D. Jon Morrison was excited about the possibility of owning the building. No other information about his plans was immediately available.

Morrison is a son of former Gov. Frank B. Morrison of McCook.

Many people inquired about the building, Reed said, and most were interested in leaving the structure as it is.

Reed told board members she was disappointed that she received only one bid on the "White House," the 1973 Atlantic modular house transformed into a classroom. But, she explained, the firewall installed for classroom safety and the cost of moving the building deterred bidders.

Board members briefly discussed keeping the modular for school use, moving it and creating office or storage space. But the costs of moving and preparation of and utilities at a new site-- estimated at $10,000 -- also deterred board members. "Given the history of the White House, we'd probably find more hidden problems," said board member Ron Soden. "Let it go."

The board accepted the single bid, for $4,000, from Phil and Betty Rouse.

The board unanimously agreed to hire Sampson Construction of Lincoln as construction manager for the proposed $5.8 million renovation/addition project at North Ward Elementary. Sampson will help with pre-election promotion of the proposed project, and then, if the project is approve by voters May 11, assume the day-to-day supervision of the construction project.

Three firms -- Sampson, R.L. Fauss of Fremont and Hawkins Construction of Omaha -- interviewed March 4 with members of the board's facilities committee.

Committee member and board member Jim Coady said, at Monday's board meeting, that all three companies are more than capable of doing the job. "So, I look at the lowest responsible bidder," he said.

Board secretary Mike Gonzales agreed. "All have good track records. All would do a great job. There's no reason not to take the lowest bid."

Soden said he wasn't entirely convinced the school needed a construction manager on a project this size, but he added, "If they can save what they say they can, it makes sense."

Board member Dawn Andersen said she was impressed with Sampson's commitment to hire local contractors. "Sampson was very forthright about giving local contractors and tradesmen a shot," Andersen said.

Coady said that the construction manager method would give the board more control over hiring sub-contractors than would the general manager method.

Andersen's motion to hire Sampson, at a total cost of $262,000, passed unanimously.

McCook Junior-Senior High will have to replace its business teacher and head wrestling coach before next fall, as the board of education accepted the resignation of teacher/coach Dean Reicks.

Reicks has taught and coached in McCook for 10 years, and plans now to join the active Nebraska Army National Guard. The board agreed to release Reicks from his 2003-04 contract so he can assume his new position as soon as possible.

Superintendent Dr. Don Marchant said a long-term substitute will be hired to take over Reicks's classes until the end of this school year.

Another resignation submitted to and approved by the board was that of Diane Mollring, who teaches high school English. She has taught in McCook for 25 1/2 years.

The board approved Mollring's application for retirement incentives through the certified staff's negotiated agreement.

The board approved two technical corrections to the bond election resolution it approved at its meeting Feb. 23. The first correction includes wording that would authorize the board to build a new elementary building if it becomes apparent that asbestos and other conditions make it necessary or advisable to build a new building rather than renovate and add onto the existing North Ward structure.

Gonzalez said this is not an attempt to change the North Ward project and build a new facility. He explained that the wording change ensures that the board's hands are not tied and the district is not committed to a renovation/addition project even if the abatement of asbestos in the existing building is not advisable.

Andersen said, "The amount of the bond stays the same."

The second correction exempts voters in Districts 8 and 41, affiliated with the McCook school system, from voting on and, if the bond is successful, paying for the new elementary building. Only McCook District 17 voters will vote on the elementary issue, said business manager Randall Datus.

The board accepted, with gratitude two gifts:

* $2,000 from the KM Foundation, to be used in an upgrade of the junior high gym.

* $1,000 from the McCook Art Guild, to pay half the costs associated with the district's artist-in-residence program.

The board voted unanimously to remain in the REWARDS grant-writing consortium, but -- as some of the other consortium members are considering -- defer the $10,000 payment for 2004-05. Dr. Marchant told board members that the program can stay useful for four to five years, without putting any more money into it.

In other action:

* The board agreed to recognize the McCook Education Association as the bargaining agent for the district's certified staff.

* The board changed its regular April meeting from the 12th to the 19th, to avoid conflicts with spring break.

* MHS juniors Allison Wilcox and Casey Clapp told board members that Student Council members manned many concession stands during activities in February, and put together "goodie bags" for students competing in districts. StuCo also raised $270 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation with a chili feed. Members plan a trip to Kearney to watch a Tri-City Storm hockey game.

* Jay Austin, owner of the Prairie and Coyote Country radio stations, told board members he does not understand why more background and information explaining agenda items is not included with the agenda packet sent to media representatives.

Austin accused the board of "routinely withholding" information vital to his news broadcasts prior to board meetings.

Austin told board president Greg Larson the board is not doing an adequate job of informing the public about upcoming agenda items. "This is not your meeting," Austin told board members. "It is our (the patrons') meeting."