School Board Picks Firm For Business Building Project

At its Feb. 9 meeting, the McDonald County R-1 School District Board of Education approved a recommendation by Superintendent Dr. Mark Stanton to make Controlled Technology Solutions the builder for the new business building.

At the last board meeting, Stanton told the board about a plan to improve the old ROTC building and bring all business classes together there to create a business building. The building needs to be updated both inside and outside. The district’s budget is $450,000, which will take care of the inside. The outside can be updated later as a phase two, Stanton said.

The board also heard an update on the bus barn from Al Willis of CTS, the builder for that project. He said workers have been working on interior framing, the roof, the fuel island, light poles and have finished the chain link fence around the facility. He said he expects to have the building closed in by the next board meeting and said the project is right on schedule. The new bus barn is located behind Pineville Primary School. The 9,425-square-foot facility will have a four-bay garage with a pit in one of the bays; a driver area with restrooms, shower and a conference room; and storage for parts and tires.

High school principal Greg Leach appeared before the board to present new course offerings for the high school. The courses will include chemistry in the community, environmental science, computer science principles and engineering design and development. The board approved the new courses.

Transportation Director Roger Stites asked for and received permission to seek bids to buy four new school buses.

Athletic Director Nick Martin presented a coaches’ handbook to the board. He said, “It’s very hard to sit down with every coach and tell them expectations.” The school board decided to read it three times before approving it.