Decorah School Board Approves Middle School Roofing Project

DECORAH -- The Decorah Community School Board held a special meeting on Monday, April 29, to discuss several agenda items. The primary topic centered around bids for the Middle School roofing project. Board members Brian Petersburg, Ron Fadness, Cindy Goodner and Carole Sand were present, while Aaron Zander participated remotely. Middle School Roof Project The bidding process for the middle school roof project included options for different scenarios, such as phased construction, if necessary. Despite initial estimates of $1.5 million, bids came in within the expected range of $1 million to $1.2 million. Some incomplete paperwork was submitted by one bidder. In the end, Academy Roofing submitted the lowest bid at $987,000, while still meeting all the requirements of the project. The process of bidding was generally seen as successful, with bids meeting or coming in below expectations. A timeline for the project emerged, with construction set to begin on May 30, with substantial completion targeted for August 9. Final completion is predicted by August 30. Some concerns were raised regarding the usability of the middle school during the summer. However, reassurance was given that certain areas, such as the gym and auditorium, would still be accessible for events such as Science National History Day and Camp Invention. A motion was made to approve the bid from Academy Roofing, with an amendment to include all alternatives in the schedule. The motion passed unanimously. Application to Upper Iowa Conference The meeting also discussed the rejection of an application to the Upper Iowa Conference by the Department of Education. These formal applications were denied despite efforts to engage in discussions with the Upper Iowa Conference. The next step proposed was to seek mediation with the Department of Education to address this issue. It was noted that all decisions related to conference affiliations must be approved by the respective school boards. The mediation process would involve posing specific mediation questions related to the denial of entry into the conference. The answers to these questions would then guide the arguments and discussions for school board approval. Despite the outcome, The Northeast Iowa Conference remains in place for the next school year, with plans for restructuring in the coming years due to the departure of some other member schools. There was assurance that documentation exists that supports the actions taken.