Eastern Greene School to replace aging boiler unit

During a meeting of the Eastern-Greene Board of School Trustees conducted Monday evening, a bid of $210,370 from Graves Plumbing was accepted to replace the aging, and failing, boiler at the elementary and middle school campus.

Five bids were submitted on the project which had an estimated cost of $250,000. Graves was the low bidder with a figure that was almost $40,000 lower than what was expected.

Graves Plumbing is now expected to start work as soon as possible to install a new Aerco boiler -- the same as what is installed in the new high school.

Superintendent Ty Mungle told the board the current boiler runs on seven pumps, two of which are original 1960s models and there is concern that the two older ones could fail at any time.

The board was familiar with the ongoing problems with the system. Several parts have had to be replaced in the past year and in April, the board voted to pursue a proactive replacement over the summer months rather than risk a system failure in the middle of the school year.

The installation should be completed without causing any disruption of loss of school days.

Mungle said the money to replace the system has been built in to the budget and the board transferred money out of the Capital Projects Fund into the Rainy Day Fund in preparation for paying for the project.

Mungle noted that once the project is completed, energy efficiency will improve and the system should result in a 40 percent cost savings over the old system.

The board also voted to spend close to $80,000 for a new 2010 International 72-passenger school bus as a replacement for an older 66-passenger bus. The additional room in the larger bus will allow some rear seats to be removed to provide more cargo storage -- useful when the bus is used by athletic, band or other school groups. The bus may also be used by contractors at times when their own bus is not running.

Mungle gave the board information on three bids received for a replacement bus including the International, a Blue Bird and a Thomas bus. Mungle recommended the International for several reasons including lower ongoing maintenance costs and ease in getting parts and service.

The money for the new bus will be spent out of approximately $95,000 that has accumulated in the school bus replacement fund. Mungle noted that the money in this fund cannot be transferred out or spent for anything other than bus replacements.

The board also discussed entering into a contract for a photographer to take school pictures.

Mungle said on the recommendation of the school's principals, he suggested using a company called Lifetouch for school pictures and the elementary and middle school yearbooks.

Pictures services have previously been provided by Janelle Spencer/Ball-Spencer Photography, a local business but Mungle said he has had several conversations with parents concerned about the price of the pictures and the yearbooks, but not the quality of the work. Lifetouch has offered a lower price.

Board member Shelly Patterson said when Spencer recently spoke to the board about her services, she offered to meet the lower price. Patterson said she was in favor of using a local business if possible and was not in favor about contracting with Lifetouch until after Spencer had been given the opportunity to meet their price.

After some discussion, the board tabled the issue until after Mungle has prepared a bid sheet and given Lifetouch, Ball-Spencer and Indiana School Pictures the opportunity to submit a bid on photography services.

In preparation for adopting a revised transfer policy regarding students who live outside the district but want to attend Eastern-Greene, the board waived the first reading of the policy.

Mungle said the policy is similar to ones being adopted by other schools in the county. Basically, the student will apply and the principal and superintendent will then decide whether to accept the student. The policy differs from some others which require a transfer student to apply by a certain deadline. Mungle said Eastern-Greene's policy will allow for transfers at any time during the year.