R-I Structural Concerns Dominate January Board Meeting Discussions

Dr. Jay Fish, executive administrator of operations, said there is an issue of concern regarding the district’s federal programs building.

Smith & Co., engineers, had assessed the building and prepared a letter explaining their findings.

Dr. Fish stated, “You may remember several years ago we had some foundation issues caused by settling of that building. At the time we had some piers and support put in to hopefully address the issues."

Since that time, however, the building has continued to settle and there are more cracks and leaks that have come about due to that settling.

Smith & Co. is of the opinion that settling will continue.

“The engineer feels we would be cost ahead as a district to remove that building,” said Dr. Fish.

He said a part of that property can be turned into space for limited parking; however, the engineer told him that even if more work is done on the grounds, he would not recommend it to be used as a building site.

Dr. Fish said the “short-term plan” is to move displaced federal programs offices and pre-K into the old career center.

“We have already started some of that work,” Dr. Fish advised the board.

Classrooms have been laid out and the plan is to put up classroom walls and remodel the rest rooms to accommodate small children.

The auditorium will be used as play space and a cafeteria, and meals will be brought over from the middle school.

Dr. Fish said the building in its current state is not derelict, but its removal will need to be addressed at some point.

Dr. Fish said the insurance provider has been notified about the building’s issues and someone will be doing a site visit in February.

Dr. Fish also presented an update regarding water damage of the elementary gymnasium.

Previously Dr. Fish advised the board of a buckling of the gymnasium floor, which is being caused in part by a leaky roof.

Dr. Fish stated the need to replace the roof is going to have to move up on the priority list.

The insurance company will pay for damages to the floor, but the roof will need to be replaced before that happens.

“We are having Smith & Co. come and look at the building to determine whether it would be better to replace the flat roof or perhaps go with a sloped metal roof,” said Dr. Fish.

Once engineers have given him their recommendation, he said he would come back with that information and it can be put out for bid.

Doniphan R-I Superintendent Mike Owen said, “We will need to discuss some ideas and decide what our priorities are. This has kind of taken a leap up the priorities chart.”

Owen also told the board that the district has used up 8 of its 10 AMI days that school can be dismissed for inclement weather. Six of those days have been due to snow, and two were because of flooding.

Owen said, “We are looking into some possible snow routes so that we can have school.”

He said once the route are decided, parents will be advised ahead of time, so that they will know where the bus stops will be and can plan accordingly.

A high point in the meeting was when Current River Career Students gave a presentation about SkillsUSA, an annual competition for vocational education students which will take place in February.

Matt Morin, sponsor, told the board that the Doniphan R-I district will send around 22 students to district competition this year, which is in Kennett. He noted that Doniphan R-I will host the competition next year.

Morin told the board that the students annually raise the money for all expenses for their trips and competitions by working together to build a trailer and then raffling it off.

“The welding students build it, the auto mechanics paint it, wire it and put the lights on it, and the carpentry students put the bed on it,” said Morin.

There are six schools in the district and four of them have welding programs, said Morin.

Competition is stiff, with only the top two winners in each category advancing to state and the top one winner competing for national honors.

Of the 22 students competing from Doniphan, 12 of them are welders.

One of the criminal justice students who spoke to the board about the competition said he will be demonstrating the appropriate way to conduct traffic stops.

Two other students who spoke will be entering the drones competition, which will also involve getting their remote pilots’ license.

The students said the rewards go beyond just getting a plaque. Those who place in the top at districts are able to earn scholarships, and those whose skills qualify them for national competition very often get job offers.

There are more than 100 individual categories in which students may compete.