Mineral Springs School Board

Mineral Springs school board met Thursday evening discussing a long list of items. Starting out the council members approved amendments made to the schools handbooks. Superintendent Billy Lee addressed the board members about an athletic handbook that he had drawn up. He stated the importance of laying a foundation in which all students were held accountable regardless of socioeconomic status. The board members voted upon Lee’s recommendation to adopt this new athletic handbook. Lee then spoke about Esser 3 money and his intention to spend it. Lee told the board members he feels it better to spend it now rather than wait the 3 years so as to possibly become eligible for more within that same time frame. Lee then spoke about the current status of the locker rooms and weight rooms that the students use on a regular basis. Lee said, concerning these facilities, and I quote, “We haven’t had anyone hurt yet but its coming” and with that presented 2 bids for brand new weight lifting equipment as well as flooring for the weight rooms. For the boys the combined cost for flooring and weight equipment totaled 152k. For the girls the total for new equipment and floor came to 81k. Lee reassured that these expenditures would be reimbursed via Esser 3 funding but said he understood if the board would choose to only do 1 right now. A board member spoke up expressing title 9 concerns that if a purchase was made for just the girls or just the boys that it might be viewed as unfair. All board members shook their heads in agreement and with that made a motion which gave to a second and passed unanimously for the expenditure of 233k for the school district of minerals springs for the purchase of new weight equipment. Lee then shared a bid for new lockers for the updated field house. Upon his recommendation a motion passed for 30 new lockers at a price of 55k as well as a 16k install price. Lee said the old lockers would be repurposed for visiting sports teams.

This Esser 3 funding has tighter stipulations than its Esser 1 and 2 counterparts but Lee expressed his confidence in having these projects reimbursed as funding came available. With that in mind the board followed Lee’s recommendations and approved the purchase of a Dust Collecting system for the wood shop class at just under $18,000. Lee also purchased all new tools for the shop class. $67,000 went towards purchasing new smart boards for in classroom use for the Kindergarten – 6th grade students. This coming after teachers reported the most recently purchased boards were not effective in the classroom setting. Lee said those screens would be in turn used throughout the school to display school information such as lunch menu items, announcements, and the pledge of allegiance. The school district has also received a grant in the amount of $82,000 for the purchase of a greenhouse that will be placed on campus. Lee received bids on the cost of covering much of the district’s gravel parking with asphalt to the tune of roughly $80,000 or $2/sq foot. The board approved this purchase, Lee stated this would be a project to take place over the coming year. Last for the Mineral Springs school board was the approval for the purchase of a 2018 Ford Explorer with 70,000 miles at a cost of $19,000. This vehicle will be outfitted for use by the school’s security officer including proper transport for the Mineral Springs K-9 unit. The former vehicle used by security will then be fitted for use by the school certified Driver’s Education teacher with classes beginning this fall.