“At the Missouri meeting, federal regulation for school buses and masking — they have decided that school buses have an exception,” said Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy during the Feb. 22 board meeting.

Hardy attended the National (American Association of School Administrators) AASA conference where the members were informed that the standards for public transportation versus school bus transportation were determined to be unique and individual.

“I would recommend making masking on school buses optional for staff and students,” Hardy suggested. “They said the reason that they did this was they cannot prove a transmission on a school bus.”

Board President Glenn Ely asked the board to approve the update to the new rule.

“The recommended action is to approve the update to the Safe Return and Continuity Plan to reflect that masks are optional for all staff and students utilizing school transportation in buses, vans or cars,” Ely said.

The measure passed with a 6-0 vote.

The board also approved a boiler bid but decided to wait to approve the roofing bid at the request of Board Director Debbie Landolt.

“If you look at those bids, there is also a cost for a chiller,” Hardy said. “We don’t need that chiller right now and it wasn’t scheduled.”

The low boiler bid was for Bendler Boiler at $131,036 that will be installed at Gerald Elementary School (GES).

“On the high school roofing bids, Watkins comes in at the low bid for $367,989,” Hardy said. “ASR came in at $341,295 but did not include a price on Fascia.”

Hardy added that the cost of roofing materials has gone up significantly.

“You all are aware, I think, that we budgeted quite a bit less for this,” Hardy began.

Landolt interrupted and asked if they needed to accept the bid that night. Hardy said no.

“The reason I ask is — Watkins, just to get some more information, from what I recall, we haven’t used Watkins since 2016 — I am just curious. Maybe talk to Jason (Hinson, maintenance) —.”

Hardy said Hinson was in earlier.

“When he come in today I asked about that and he recommended that,” Hardy said.

“I would like to get a little bit more information,” Landolt insisted. 

Hardy said ok.

Ely asked if there were any questions or comments about the boiler bid and they would hold off on the roofing bid until the next meeting. The boiler bid was awarded to Bendler Boiler with a 6-0 vote.

(Editor’s note: The Republican in a Feb. 23 story incorrectly reported a roofing bid was awarded based on a “recommended action” for the Board of Education to consider. The bid was not awarded. It was tabled. The Republican regrets the error).