LGISD School Board: One Big Project Down, One on the Horizon?
Monday the La Grange School board held their monthly meeting with free meals, artificial turf and busted pipes among the items discussed.
Here’s a roundup:
Construction
Every monthly board meeting for the past couple of years, representatives from Claycomb Architects have presented an update on the bond construction projects.
Monday Tony Nielsen from Claycomb addressed the board and said this was going to be his last official project update because the construction is “at substantial completion.”
Among the final touches are canopy projects at a number of buildings, including an ornate canopy in front of the Performing Arts Center, which merges with the massive live oak in the front of the building.
Football Field
Nielsen then talked to the board about the still-underconsideration Leopard Stadium renovations, which would include track replacement and turf installation. The estimate for the project would be between $2-2.5 million, with funds coming from current reserves. The board could officially vote on going ahead with the project as early as next month’s meeting.
If the board does decide to go ahead with the project in March, the field and track is ex pected to be completed by Aug. 1. Graduation ceremonies could still be held at the field amidst the construction.
Free Suppers
The board also heard a presentation from cafeteria manager Nancy Fritsch-Tielsch about offering evening meals to students through The Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Via the program, the school would get federal money to provide seven days of supper meals, all packaged for pick-up once a week on Monday curbside at the school. The school would get more money than it costs to prepare each meal, so it would actually help cafeteria revenue, Superintendent Bill Wagner said.
The board is set to vote on the program at next month’s meeting, and if passed the program would begin immediately.
Hires/Retires
There were several hires and resignations approved at Monday’s meeting, effective at the end of this semester.
Lorena Noriega was hired as a cafeteria worker, Ronda Treybig as a middle school educational aide and Sharon Bradford as an elementary nurse.
Retirement requests were accepted from Monica Bartosh (who had taught at the elementary for 35 years) and elementary teacher Dana Kulak.
Resignations were accepted from elementary art teacher Lesley Roesler, athletic trainer Erica Williamson and also Maggie Cartwright and Vickie Manriquez.
Gifts
The board accepted a number of donations:
• A monetary gift of $15,000 to the LGISD Baseball Activity Fund by Mr, Ken Gray of Kenmar.
• A gift of $3,500 from the Sanford Schmid Charitable Trust for whatever is most needed for the library.
• A gift of $5,000 to the scholarship fund from an anonymous donor.
COVID
Superintendent Bill Wagner gave an update on COVID numbers. Since the last board meeting in January, eight students and one staff member at the elementary had a confirmed case of COVID as well as four middle school students, and seven high school students and one high school staff member.
Some 56 total students continue to attend school online, though the district does not plan to offer online instruction next year.
Other notes
• Wagner informed the board that enrollment was down 70 students overall from the same time last year.
• For the first time in recent memory La Grange ISD will host the UIL spring academic meet March 25 – with events being contested at the Randolph Rec. Center and the Norma Webb Center (old hospital).
• The Rec. Center hosted the district CX debate competition Feb. 2 with La Grange students placing second, third and fourth.
La Grange will also host the district One Act Play Competition here March 12.
• Sharon Muzny gave a report on district facilities, updating the board on several storm related pipe breaks on campus (see Tuesday’s Record for info on that). One new development is that the high school library will be closed at least two weeks because of the water damage to the carpet and floor electrical plugs there.
• The board changed the date of next month’s school board meeting from March 15 to Monday March 22 to avoid having the meeting during spring break.