The Fredericktown R-1 School Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2009.

The agenda included opening bids for the engineering and drawing of the football field restrooms. Five companies responded and two did not offer those services listed in the bid. Of the three remaining bids, one was listed with an hourly rate which was not capped in the bid proposal according to District Superintendent Dr. Kelly Burlison. The other two had a percentage of the project costs as their billing. (Example given; 5.5 percent of a $200,000 project cost  would cost $11,000 for the drawings). The board decided to table the bids for more information, including what would happen if the project was not initiated, due to construction costs, after the plans are drawn-up.

In other agenda items, the board approved the local bus route schedules and the list of substitute teachers.

The major portion of the discussions were on the 2009-2010 budget which was passed. Dr. Burlison discussed the various ways finances for the budget are gathered from multiple sources including state,  and local taxes, grants, school fundraising projects and more. He also had praise for Chadd Starkey for having the food services accounting being “in the black”.

The board has also identified a problem with some guttering  that is about 30 years old and needs replacing. They produced a section of the guttering that was removed to show the damage that had occurred.

Dr. Burlison also talked about school closures in other counties he had heard about on KFVS12.   Burlison said the state guideline is about 80 to 81 percent of the students absent would call for the possible closing of the school. Burlison said the attendance is up around 90 to 94 percent in the R-1 district and no plans have been made for any closures as of this meeting. Schools are still cleaning to try and stay one step ahead of the flu.

The board went into closed session.