School election details finished
The Red Oak School Board finalized petition language for the upcoming bond issue special election on June 27.
The approved language for the bond issue is as follows:
“Shall the Board of Directors of the Red Oak Community School District in the Counties of Montgomery, Page and Pottawattamie, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $19,990,000 to provide funds to remodel, renovate, improve, refurbish, furnish and equip and to construct, furnish and equip additions to the existing high school campus (including the Tech Center) and the Inman Campus; and to improve the existing high school (including the Tech Center) site; it being the intention of the School District to apply receipts of the school infrastructure, sales, services and use tax to abate and reduce the levy of taxes to pay principal and interest on the Bonds?”
The board unanimously approved the language at its regular meeting last week.
The board also discussed changing the board policy and adding new regulations. The discussion stems from the board meeting in December, 2016, when the board was considering the steps for hiring an architect. Rules set by the state indicate an architect can be hired without going through a bidding process. However, board policy dictates any project over $25,000 requires a bidding process.
The board was considering suspending board policy or amending board policy to modify to the state’s standard of hiring architects. At the beginning of the district renovation project, the board approved an original agreement with Alley Poyner Macchietto Architects for a scope of work without a charge or fee. The last condition of the agreement was that if the board were to put out prepared documents for bond, that would engage the services of Alley Poyner Macchietto.
Superintendent Tom Messinger said he had received recommended verbiage from the IASB.
“The question is whether or not we want the policy in place when we hire an architect. If it’s not in place, it will go out for bid, per policy. If we update the policy, the board is not obligated to go out for bids for contracted services,” Messinger said.
Currently, the district is still under the pre-agreement with Alley Poyner Macchiettio, up to when the documents go out to a bond vote. Messinger said the timing makes it a sticky situation.
“I believe the policy needs to be changed. I don’t want to give the public the perspective that we’re changing the policy just to hire an architect. I believe moving forward with the services provided by Alley Poyner is the best interests of the district. I think we go backwards and require additional time and expense if we go with another architect. It’s impossible to say what money is required to bring us up-to-date if we go out for bids,” Messinger said.
Messinger said if the board policy were changed, the board would still have the option to seek bids, the change would simply make the decision optional, rather than a requirement. He added that the change could be beneficial in other areas, such as the hiring of the school attorney.
Boyd Jones representative George Schuler said the board had the option for a two-part agreement for any additional support getting factual information out to the public, and the second part of the contract to go into effect if the bond issue passes. Schuler added the proposed fees from Alley Poyner were reasonable, and below the percentage of other fees he’s been quoted.
“I think the board could use some help pre-bond. You don’t have any risks if the contract is in two parts,” Schuler said.
Board member Mark Johnson agreed with Schuler’s comments, based on personal research he had done. Board President Paul Griffen suggested the decision to change board policy be tabled until the next board meeting April 24, so the public would have a chance to speak for or against the change. The board agreed to postpone discussion to the next board meeting.