By JIM BUTLER
School Board member Willard McCall sees no point in horsing around about how to use a $2.4 million lagniappe.
More precisely, he wants it directed to Peabody Magnet High, home of the Warhorses, and will ask the District 62 Committee to vote accordingly at its meeting this afternoon.
The money is premium earned on the last installment of the district’s $100 million bond issue. The bonds were sold in late March; the premium has been in the bank since early April.
At its May meeting the board elected to set the money aside until more is known about various needs related to the bond issue.
For instance, at this point the fall enrollment at Peabody, impacted by the change in Bolton’s restricted attendance, is not yet known.
Plant alterations may still be required.
Additionally, the district doesn’t yet have cost projections on members’ change of mind adding storm shelters to construction plans for five schools.
Such shelters can be quite expensive, depending on direction chosen.
Earmarking all the premium for Peabody was one of five options reviewed for the board by Supt. Jeff Powell. Two others included allocating the Broadway Avenue plant $1.2 million.
In the initial bond package Peabody was assigned $5.8 million, with contingency of $779,000. ASH got $14 million, Bolton $5.7 million.
Upgrades are currently under way there. The Finance Committee today will consider a change order adding $335,000 to the contract for an assortment of renovation items. That is not a portion of the bond premium.
McCall, who had two Montessori schools in his election district that received no bond money, voiced agreement with the set-aside decision. He has changed his mind.
The committee will also consider chair Sandra Franklin’s motion to direct the administration review/revise criteria for allocation/distribution of the district maintenance fund.
That fund receives about $7.2 million a year for use at schools in Wards 1, 8 and a portion of 2.
Prior to its committee meetings the board will hold a 5 o’clock special meeting to approve awarding a contract for a scoreboard at Pineville High.