YME is getting a big slice of the stimulus pie. According to a source in the Minnesota Department of Education, the state of Minnesota was allocated $81.57 million dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for educational construction projects. YME Superintendent Al Stoeckman was notified that $10,745,102 of those stimulus dollars have been allocated for YME.
The money will come to YME through Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). QZAB bonds are low interest or no interest bonds. The bonds can be used to cover the costs of a variety of projects. Other factors to qualify for QZAB bonds include geographic location, project readiness, and the district’s resource level. The bonds will help finance the $14 million dollar health and safety project.
Stoeckman had applied for the stimulus funding several months ago and had hoped to have $1 to $2 million allocated. “This is more than we expected, we still have to find out how this will affect the project.” Stoeckman explained he would be in contact with Ehlers: Financial Planning, Financial Advisory Services. “There is a good chance these bonds will be no interest bonds that will save approximately $8,000,000 in interest over the life of the bonds.
The news of the allocation was received by YME on April 5 in a letter from Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren. The letter stated: “This is an official notification that your Qualified Academy Bond (QZAB) application has been received and meets the intent of the requirements necessary for approval. Your district is hereby granted an allocation of $10,745,102 and is authorized to obtain program financing up to the amount.” The letter continues, “This authorization expires on August 31, 2010.”
“The notice of the bonds could not have come at a better time,” stated YME Board Chair Elmo Volstad as he introduced Dan Bosch and Buzz Comstock from Energy Services Group (ESG). The two men were at the board meeting to request that the school board take action to award bids for the high school portion of the project. The board approved $3,828,511 in bids. The mechanical work went to McDowell Company at $2,432,900; the electrical contract went to B & J Region Electric at $396,405; general contractor was awarded to Kranz Construction at $517,066; temperature controls went to Paape Energy Services at $446,360 and testing, adjusting and balancing went to Test & Balance Associates, Inc. at $35,780. In each area, the bid was awarded to the lowest bidder.
Bosch told the board that the bids came in 20 percent under the estimate. The bids for the work at Bert Raney Elementary had come in at 18 percent under estimate. “We couldn’t be doing this project at a better time,” shared Volstad.
Bosch explained that bids on all of the ESG projects have been coming in under estimates, “We’ve been seeing low bids because of the competition for the projects by the contractors. What we’ve seen now is the manufacture’s costs being lowered.”
Comstock indicated that the work to be completed at the high school is the same type of work that is being done at Bert Raney. The mechanical work will include all the changes necessary for indoor air quality including dehumidification. The electrical will include new energy efficient lights, and new electrical service to facilitate all the changes required.
Minor work on the high school project will begin this summer with a target completion date set for the fall of 2011.
Personnel:
The board approved the following personnel items: A leave of absence request for Mary Austgen; the resignation of Ryan Bremmer as girls basketball coach; the resignation of Trevor Schulte as staff development/district assessment coordinator; leave of absence for Wanda Josephson; employment of long-term paraprofessional substitute Barb Miller; employment of Dean Baldry as assistant baseball coach, and approved Gordy Kasel as a volunteer boys tennis coach.
Other business
The board approved a requests for the Minneota School District and the Ivanhoe School District to join the Yellow Medicine Integration Collaborative (YMIC). The board also approved the YMIC budget for the 2010-2011 school year.
The board approved a special meeting to be held on Monday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the board room.
|
|
|
YME is getting a big slice of the stimulus pie. According to a source in the Minnesota Department of Education, the state of Minnesota was allocated $81.57 million dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for educational construction projects. YME Superintendent Al Stoeckman was notified that $10,745,102 of those stimulus dollars have been allocated for YME.
The money will come to YME through Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB). QZAB bonds are low interest or no interest bonds. The bonds can be used to cover the costs of a variety of projects. Other factors to qualify for QZAB bonds include geographic location, project readiness, and the district’s resource level. The bonds will help finance the $14 million dollar health and safety project.
Stoeckman had applied for the stimulus funding several months ago and had hoped to have $1 to $2 million allocated. “This is more than we expected, we still have to find out how this will affect the project.” Stoeckman explained he would be in contact with Ehlers: Financial Planning, Financial Advisory Services. “There is a good chance these bonds will be no interest bonds that will save approximately $8,000,000 in interest over the life of the bonds.
The news of the allocation was received by YME on April 5 in a letter from Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren. The letter stated: “This is an official notification that your Qualified Academy Bond (QZAB) application has been received and meets the intent of the requirements necessary for approval. Your district is hereby granted an allocation of $10,745,102 and is authorized to obtain program financing up to the amount.” The letter continues, “This authorization expires on August 31, 2010.”
“The notice of the bonds could not have come at a better time,” stated YME Board Chair Elmo Volstad as he introduced Dan Bosch and Buzz Comstock from Energy Services Group (ESG). The two men were at the board meeting to request that the school board take action to award bids for the high school portion of the project. The board approved $3,828,511 in bids. The mechanical work went to McDowell Company at $2,432,900; the electrical contract went to B & J Region Electric at $396,405; general contractor was awarded to Kranz Construction at $517,066; temperature controls went to Paape Energy Services at $446,360 and testing, adjusting and balancing went to Test & Balance Associates, Inc. at $35,780. In each area, the bid was awarded to the lowest bidder.
Bosch told the board that the bids came in 20 percent under the estimate. The bids for the work at Bert Raney Elementary had come in at 18 percent under estimate. “We couldn’t be doing this project at a better time,” shared Volstad.
Bosch explained that bids on all of the ESG projects have been coming in under estimates, “We’ve been seeing low bids because of the competition for the projects by the contractors. What we’ve seen now is the manufacture’s costs being lowered.”
Comstock indicated that the work to be completed at the high school is the same type of work that is being done at Bert Raney. The mechanical work will include all the changes necessary for indoor air quality including dehumidification. The electrical will include new energy efficient lights, and new electrical service to facilitate all the changes required.
Minor work on the high school project will begin this summer with a target completion date set for the fall of 2011.
Personnel:
The board approved the following personnel items: A leave of absence request for Mary Austgen; the resignation of Ryan Bremmer as girls basketball coach; the resignation of Trevor Schulte as staff development/district assessment coordinator; leave of absence for Wanda Josephson; employment of long-term paraprofessional substitute Barb Miller; employment of Dean Baldry as assistant baseball coach, and approved Gordy Kasel as a volunteer boys tennis coach.
Other business
The board approved a requests for the Minneota School District and the Ivanhoe School District to join the Yellow Medicine Integration Collaborative (YMIC). The board also approved the YMIC budget for the 2010-2011 school year.
The board approved a special meeting to be held on Monday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the board room.
