Orchard boards hear safety, demo reports

The Orchard advisory and original boards of education reorganized for the upcoming months, when they met in joint session last Monday, Jan. 6, at the school.

Advisory board members Candace Hoke, DeAnna Clifton, Nathan Schwager and Kristi Schutt voted to retain the current officers for the remaining months, until the Summerland consolidation takes effect. Hoke will continue as president; with Schutt as vice president; Clifton, secretary; and Schwager, treasurer.

Board committee members will also remain the same, including Clifton and Hoke on CAB Committee; Schutt and Schwager on Building and Grounds Committee and Schwager; Hoke and Clifton, committee on American civics.

Some confusion arose on an agenda item to elect one member of the original board to serve on the unified board. The original board includes the four advisory board members along with Terri Hergert and Terra Williby.

“We shouldn’t have to do that,” Hergert said. “That’s done every two years.”

Despite Hergert’s input that no term was up for re-election this year, the original board members opted to conduct the election. A motion to retain current members carried unanimously. It was later determined Hergert was correct and the motion was unnecessary.

Principal Cathy Cooper asked advisory board members to clarify which school account a $10,000 transfer to the Summerland interlocal account, approved at the December meeting, should be taken from. The members affirmed, on an unanimous vote, to make the transfer from the building and grounds account. She also reported bond funds were starting to be deposited.

Cooper reminded members she had conflict of interest statements, if applicable. Schutt was the only member to indicate a potential conflict.

The principal also reviewed a recent safety inspection conducted by Larry Hiatt of Spencer, who is contracted by the district to conduct the inspections. She said he was thorough, taking most of a day to complete the inspection. The report was lengthy, but according to Cooper, many items listed on the report were merely reminders and the overall result was good.

A resolution for equitable disposal of Unified District #1 assets was approved by the original board, five to one, with Williby voting nay. Cooper reviewed the agreement prior to the vote.

“Basically, it’s saying that whatever the three sites have within their buildings, that they use on a regular basis, that will remain in each of those three buildings,” she said. “Then, once we get through collecting all the remaining taxes and all those different things and we have all the remaining bills, there will still be a Unified fund, for a time…up to three years… what is left will be prorated according to valuation.”

She said original Unified district start-up money from 1999 will be refunded to the three districts as well, with Clearwater and Orchard’s funds going to Summerland. She said that money will be dispersed in June when the unification is dissolved.

“Next year, we’ll be Summerland, but there’s just like daily things that you do and decisions you have to make as a principal, so I imagine some of these funds will stay, they will be Summerland funds but… I’ll still pull from that elementary fund…without having to go through a process of getting those funds. But any big line items, Mr. Martin would have to approve,” Cooper said. “Likewise then, if we decide you want some earmarked to do something with this building, it’s Summerland funds, it will be up to the Summerland board.”

When asked if the Orchard board can earmark funds for the facility, Cooper said they can, but it is just a suggestion from the Orchard board to the Summerland board.

The principal told board members that Pat O’Neill from O’Neill Wood Resources, a demolition company from Grand Island, had inspected the old building. He advised the two largest obstacles he saw were detaching the building from the newer facility and moving a structure that houses HVAC equipment, in order to prevent damage to the equipment.

She said O’Neill did not identify asbestos in the older structure and indicated the board could save some construction material, such as stonework that is engraved “Orchard Public Schools.” Debris would be ground and buried on site, which would prevent any future construction on the site. The district will be responsible for disconnection of all utilities.

Cooper had not yet received a price quote for the demolition, but it was initially estimated between $150,000 and $200,000. She also indicated she had not received a response from Scott Holcomb, with Holcomb Mechanical of Broken Bow, regarding a price to move the three HVAC units and advised she would forward estimates to board members.

Ensuing discussion included a timeline for the project, disposal of debris, a suggestion to commit prior to June and suggestions for other demolition firms, as well as potential uses for the newer facility and the need to have firm demolition figures prior to June. Cooper was directed to enquire who conducted demo work for other area districts.

The next joint Orchard meeting is set for 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5.