Eureka USD 389 To Move Forward With Pressure Booster System Replacement
After months of not being able to utilize the main gym at Eureka Junior/ Senior High School (EJSHS), due to a water leak, students at EJSHS were able to return to the main gym on Monday of this week. Maintenance Director Derek Larcom and Superintendent Scott Hoyt shared with the Eureka USD 389 Board of Education (BOE) last Monday, Oct. 14, that the floor was in the final stages of curing and would begin allowing people to walk on the floor. The district plans to hold off on utilizing bleachers in the new gym in the coming weeks to allow for additional cure time.
Larcom also shared with the board that one side of the pressure booster system at Marshall Elementary School (MES) had locked up, causing the other to work double. The current system has been at MES since the building was constructed in 2002. MES Principal Stacy Coulter and Larcom noted that staff has been turning off the system daily, however, condensation has been a problem.
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Larcom shared he has been in contact with various businesses in hopes of acquiring bids for a new pressure booster system at MES. As of Monday, Oct. 14, Larcom had a single bid from McElroy’s to remove the existing water pressure booster system and install a new duplex booster pump system for $49,885.84. Although the plan is to install the new equipment over the Christmas break, the board approved Larcom to spend up to the quoted amount, as the installation is at least two weeks out from the time of order. Larcom hoped to obtain additional bids before ordering; but, will move forward sooner if the system prohibits them from waiting any longer.
Larcom also provided an update on buses. In January, the board approved to purchase a 14+1 bus from Kansas Truck Center; however, the district is still waiting on the bus. Larcom stated he has reached out multiple times and the date continues to get pushed back. During his last call, he was told it would be ready in April but, GM has not yet provided VIN numbers for the chassis. In recent weeks, Larcom received a flier from American Bus Sales which noted they had 14+1 buses in stock. It was later shared that American Bus Sales ordered the buses two years ago. The district was able to secure a bus; however, the cost increased 9-10%, noting the increase in price of materials.
Eureka FFA members Cody Johnson, Cheyenne Gardner, Tristan Milner, Levi Jones, TJ Mills and Corinne Nelson addressed the board in regards to the upcoming National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Johnson, Gardner, Milner and Jones will be attending the convention and career fair with plans of leaving on Tuesday and returning Friday. Mills and Nelson, along with Hannah and 2024 graduate Lyle Perrier, will be representing Eureka at the convention, but through competition, as they qualified in meats judging. They will be leaving on Monday and returning Saturday. The board granted both permission with traveling out of state, meals for supervisors and suburbans, as well as $400 per meat judge team member.
Members of MES’s Student Lighthouse Team, Stella Shivers, Cooper and Kasen Del Pozzo and Brystle Osborne, shared an update of MES happenings with the board.
MES Principal Coulter, EJSHS Principal Angie Lowe and Superintendent Hoyt gave administrative reports.
The board held a 15-minute executive session for personnel and a 10-minute executive session for student matters, both with Principal Lowe and Superintendent Hoyt. No action was taken.
Prior to adjourning their routine monthly meeting, the board accepted the resignation from junior high volleyball assistant coach Shelby Valentine (she will continue to serve as a paraprofessional at MES) and approved to hire Joey Nunley as EJSHS Science teacher.
The board will meet for their November monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m.
