reputation in working with schools. ….

reputation in working with schools.

Grubbs recommended going with the American Asphalt/Point of Beginning contract with about a $450,000 overall project cost. The actual amount could vary based on if the district pulverized the existing blacktop track surface and used it in place of removing all the material and bringing in fresh gravel.

Grubbs said while this could potentially save money, there could be concern about the base having cracking issues in the future. He said the removal of everything and bringing in new material is the 100% correct way to do it that would have it last a longer time. A track should last about 15 to years, Grubbs said.

Grubbs said bringing in fresh gravel would raise the cost by about $66,000 which would raise the cost of the project to $480,000 to $490,000.

Board member Rollie Thums said it is common to use pulverized asphalt as road bed materials. “To me getting rid of group up asphalt is a waste,” Thums said.

Thums also did not like the idea that it would still only be a six-lane track. Grubbs said making it eight lanes would add $150,000 to the project without much gain in the size of meets the school could host given the size of the community. He noted that Edgar has a six-lane track and hosts larger meets with six to seven teams.

Board member Peter Meyer favored the plan to bring in fresh gravel noting it would be a bigger waste to have a track that did not last as long.

It was noted that the asphalt torn up from the track could potentially be used with district parking lots to prevent it from going to waste.

Grubbs said they are looking at some potential donors that could help bring down the cost for the district. He suggested they could get the project done using the district’s Fund 46 long term projects account to meet the difference between what is raised and the total.

He said the decision on the base could be finalized as the project advances, but their intent would be to get it on the calendar for American Asphalt to work on this summer and allow the work to be completed by next October.

Board members agreed and voted to accept the bid from American Asphalt and Point of Beginning.

In other business, board members:

• Accepted the achievement gap reduction report from Dallmann showing the district in on pace for meeting the proficiency goals for reading and math for elementary grades. The district has set a goal of is for students to be at the 80th percentile compared to peers at other schools. “A goal of 80th percentile is very rigorous. All grade levels on on target to meet that,” Dallmann said.

• Approved the middle school STEM Club to go on an overnight competition to Waukesha. This trip is in place of one previously approved and Grubbs noted it will be slightly cheaper. The STEM Club has fundraised and received donations to help cover the cost of the trip. In related action, board members formally approved setting up a school account for the STEM Club.

• Received an update for plans for Summer School with two sessions of swimming to take place in Phillips.

• Received an update on federal funding for the district. Grubbs noted the that this is a lot going with it. He reported on attending Rep. Tom Tiffany’s listening session and asking about the Secure Rural Schools Act funding which was removed from the most recent federal budget, directly eliminating $42,000 in revenue from the Rib Lake school District budget. By comparison, the starting wage of a teacher in the district is $44,000. The money is to compensate districts with large areas of nontaxable federal forests. Rib Lake schools has 48,000 acres of national forest in it. Grubbs also noted the future of about $260,000 in federal title funding for things like special education remain in question due to federal cuts.

• Approved the other post employment benefit annual report. This is money the district sets aside each year to pay for health insurance for recent retirees. He noted the district put into the fund about the same amount as had been taken out and that the district is on the higher end of a bubble that he expects will go down as the number of retirees eligible for it decreases.