Broken Bow School Board Votes 4-2 to Move Forward with New Track

BROKEN BOW–The Broken Bow School Board held its regular meeting on Monday, May 18 to discuss the track, preschool project, and recent resignations.

While the board had previously been hesitant on approving a new track for the last couple years, the board voted 4-2 to approve Fisher Track to begin the process. (Voting yes was Gerald Pirnie, Pam Holcomb, Mary Shaw, and Tim Chancellor. Voting no was J.B. Atkins and Tom Osmond.)

Broken Bow Superintendent Darren Tobey said the project has a max budget of $600,000 and includes new cement and track surface. Monday night’s 4-2 motion is contingent on the total being $600,000 or lower and the cement to be used will be sourced from Paulsen.

Mr. Tobey also noted that five inches of concrete will be poured on the existing surface which will cure for thirty days before the new rubberized surface is placed on and painted. He also wanted the public to be made aware the track will not raise the budget or the levy.

The pre-school project is also progressing along after the board ranked Chief Construction their number one choice of three for construction managers. Sampson Construction was ranked number two and Bierman Contracting, Inc. was ranked at number three. The total cost of the entire project is estimated to be around $1.9 to $2 million. Tobey said they will not officially know the final numbers on the managers contract until mid-June.

Raises were also approved for administration and classified pay (non-teachers). For the administration, Tobey will have $10,000 to give raises where he sees fit while classified pay was increased 2%. Substitute teacher pay was also approved to be increased to $110 for a full day or $55 for half a day.

The BBPS general fund also got a slight bump as the board voted to close the CO-OP account and move the $25,000 in that account to the general fund. In November 2018, KCNI/KBBN had reported that the board voted to depart the Sandhills Educational Services Cooperative. Since the money was no longer being used for that purpose, the board elected to move the money into the general fund to be used where needed.

The school board also approved letters of resignation from Special Education Director Nikki Altig and science teacher Kurt Altig. The couple have accepted positions in North Platte after working 15 years in the Broken Bow district. The search for a science teacher is underway. Nikki Altig’s responsibilities will be shared between the administration in the meantime and will be revisited during the 2021-2022 school year. (Stay tuned for a feature story on the Altigs!)

The next work session will be held June 8 at 7:30 PM with the next regular meeting taking place on June 15 at 7:30 PM. Meetings will continue to be held in the meeting room at the Broken Bow High School.

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