Plans Continue For Barn At Lincoln High School

LINCOLN SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES $13 MILLION BUDGET

LINCOLN — Lincoln High School’s plans for a new agricultural barn will probably come to fruition about a year later than hoped.

In August, School Board members were given a preliminary cost of $756,000 to construct the building from Greg Ferus, senior project manager with Milestone Construction Co.

This figure did not include furnishings, and equipment, site work, architectural and engineering fees and permit fees.

Board members have met in two work sessions since then to continue to talk about the project and look for ways to bring down the overall costs.

Mary Ann Spears, superintendent of Lincoln Consolidated School District, told Board members at their September meeting that Ferus has new drawings for the barn and is seeking prices from his subcontractors.

Spears said it may not be until next year before the agri building will be ready but noted, “It’s all good.” She said the board may need to have another work session to look at the new design.

The design submitted in August showed the agri building would be 100 feet by 74 feet with one-half of it enclosed and the other half open. It would have an office, restrooms, feed room and a learning or working lab.

The school purchased 5 acres located east of the school’s agriculture wing for the new barn. The preliminary plan was to have the barn ready for the 2018-19 year but now the goal is to have it finished for the 201920 school year.

In other action Sept. 17, the School Board approved a $13 million budget for the 2018-19 school year.

The district projects to receive $13.3 million in revenue, including about $2 million in property taxes, almost $6 million from the state for student enrollment, about $900,000 in federal funds for the free and reduced lunch program and $911,868 from food service fees.

The budget estimates $13 million in expenses, with more than half of the budget allocated to salaries and benefits, about $7.6 million. Another $809,912 is budgeted for operations and maintenance, $415,086 for instructional support services, about $865,000 for debt service, $854,031 for food service.

The new budget compares to a $14.5 million budget approved for the 2017-18 school year.

The board briefly discussed security. The school’s new resource officer, former police Chief Russell Morphis, has been visible at the school and walking the halls and checking doors, Spears said. Morphis now is assistant police chief as well as school resource officer.

“Russell is doing a great job,” Spears said.

School officials have observed an active intruder training in Farmington and are looking at additional drills for students in Lincoln.

Each monthly board meeting always includes a time for celebrations and recognitions from the three schools.

Kandi Newby, Lincoln High resource teacher, reported that the high school has been named a National Unified Special Olympics Banner School. To receive the award, schools must meet 10 standards of excellence.

Michele Price, middle school principal, gave an update on the school’s plan to use a program called Summit this year that aligns the curriculum for all grades.

Jill Jackson, elementary school principal, said the school’s Grandparents Day held Sept. 7 was a great success. The school fed 260 adults.